Fall from silo (28 October 2021)
A grain farmer received serious injuries when he fell approximately 10 metres from the top of a silo. New silos had been installed at the property and a witness report indicates that the farmer was releasing the lid on the first silo when he attempted to jump to the second silo and fell.
Top of silo and access lid
Access ladder of top of silo
Safety information
Incidents of falls when moving between two silos can be prevented by providing safe elevated access between the silos, such as a fixed walkway with suitable guardrails or enclosure. Alternately, the silos could be positioned far enough apart that jumping between them is not possible.
Never jump from one silo to another
This is a timely reminder that work on or around silos is dangerous. For more information on general silo safety please visit the SafeWork NSW Silo Safety webpage.
Statistics
Falls from silos, windmills, buildings and machinery during maintenance and harvest are among the main causes of death and injury on farms. 30 people have died on Australian farms in the last decade falling from heights. Don’t take chances, always be safe working at heights.
More information
- Managing the risks of falls at workplaces – Code of Practice
- Silo safety – Falls from heights video – SafeWork NSW
- Silo safety self-assessment checklist - SafeWork NSW