Fall Protection on Bins

[Blaithin]

It came up in discussion how most farmers have no form of all protection on their bins. Who here does or doesn’t? Why not?

Most excuses I’ve heard so far are no surprise.

Inconvenient and cost.

But the guys who’ve known people who’ve fallen or have slipped themselves use something.

Seems silly not too really. Everyone preaches don’t go in a bin yet nobody seems to say protect yourself when climbing them.

[Herc]

Don’t have, don’t need. Spend the money on good lids, and auger spout and never climb another bin in ur life.

[GDR]

Kind of a right of passage as a farmer to end up stuck on top of a bin when your ladder falls over. At least nowadays everyone has a cell phone, not so much fun before that!

[Rareearth]

All bins should be visually inspected as the first load is being drawn out of the bin!

A crusted bin will plug the bin out lets but worse is contaminating the while bin with spoiled grain which results in major down grading. If need be, get hoses taped together and grain vac the crust off

[AlbertaFarmer5]

All bins should be visually inspected as the first load is being drawn out of the bin!

A crusted bin will plug the bin out lets but worse is contaminating the while bin with spoiled grain which results in major down grading. If need be, get hoses taped together and grain vac the crust off

And I thought I was the only one who does that. Dragging vac hoses (7"), ratchet straps, etc.
I probably climb the bin more often while emptying than while loading.
Besides, it seems every truck driver I hire is afraid of heights, so never climb a bin anyways.

[Blaithin]

No safety precautions for climbing, I’d flat out say no. Fine with heights or not.

[shtferbrains]

Good friend of mine went up to close a lid when the opener wouldn't close Kind of a fussy guy and very organized.
Never see a lid open in his yard but that was his last climb.
Shocking at the time.
Great family guy with a lot to be proud of.
Self made man in his prime of life all over in seconds.

Like SF3 says. Be careful out there. Farming is a dangerous way to make a living especially this time of year.

[Blaithin]

Seen a guy today quote a fall restraint bin kit to install on bins. Cable and engineered anchor so you’ll be safe.

Cost was $175-$200 for the kit to do one bin, and about $399 for the harness and cable run.

That is not cost prohibitive at all for what it can do. Which means it’s all about the inconvenience factor.

[fjlip]

Those spiral stairways around HUGE bins are one of the best safety ideas. With aeration, temp cables, have not had any crusting for 20 years. Always said "stay safe" means DON"T climb bins, especially as many are OLD now. Know of several healthy OLD fellows died from all kinds of falls.

[AlbertaFarmer5]

No safety precautions for climbing, I’d flat out say no. Fine with heights or not.

Since you work in an elevator, you can likely sympathize with this story.

My grandpa was very afraid of heights, he didn't even climb a wooden bin, but during the depression, he got himself a job painting grain elevators. I regret that I never got a chance to find out more details, why, and how it went. Desperate times.
Then my dad had a career climbing power poles( including competitions), and communication towers. The fear of heights apparently didn't run in the family..

[LEP]

Seen a guy today quote a fall restraint bin kit to install on bins. Cable and engineered anchor so you’ll be safe.

Cost was $175-$200 for the kit to do one bin, and about $399 for the harness and cable run.

That is not cost prohibitive at all for what it can do. Which means it’s all about the inconvenience factor.

I have not seen them that cheap. Probably worth looking into. I have nearly a hundred bins so per bin costs add up. Biggest problem was support runs the length of the sidewall and stops at the hopper which means hooking on and off while standing on a ladder, flat bottoms wouldn't be the same issue.

I kinda doubt my mexican mennonite would use a harness, but I wouldn't mind seeing what is out there.

[Blaithin]

https://www.silverstarag.ca/bin-safe-system

This is the one I seen quoted. His model goes over the leading edge, right to the top.

[LEP]

https://www.silverstarag.ca/bin-safe-system

This is the one I seen quoted. His model goes over the leading edge, right to the top.

Thanks.

[chuckChuck]

Watching truckers walk on the edge of their trailers is another example of a high risk adventure.

Its usually the the young and invincible types who still think their sense of balance is perfect.

Head and spinal injuries from falling off the truck edge are quite frequent.

One little slip and you can spend the rest of your life in a wheel chair unrecognizable and incoherant to your friends and family or dead.

A fall restraint cable system on bins is a good idea. I use a harness especially in winter. I am trying to teach the younger guys to use it whether they think they need it or not.

[WiltonRanch]

Lot of my “bins” have cages around the ladders. Climbing a regular run of the mill bin gives me the willies. I don’t do heights or water particularly well, so any false sense of security would be a great idea.