Silos

Many falls from silos occur when inspecting and handling the contained product or maintaining the silo.

A small silo and two tanks on a farm, with green rolling hills in the background.

To reduce the risk of falls from silos:

  • Work from the ground whenever possible by installing and using ground level working devices such as:
    • augers and or conveyors to lift the product from the ground or truck level up into the silo
    • extension rods and cables to open and close hatches from the ground
    • drone technology to conduct high level visual inspections
    • sight glasses showing the amount of product in the silo that can be seen from the ground
    • access doors and hatches that can be opened and closed from ground level
    • fumigation systems that distribute the gas to the head space from ground level.
  • If work cannot be performed from the ground, the risk of falls can be reduced by:
    • using fixed encaged ladders, having platforms with guard rails fitted to the top of the silo or using an elevated work platform
    • ensuring fixed ladders and elevated areas are inaccessible to unauthorised persons including children
    • if a fall prevention device cannot be used, a work positioning or fall arrest system such as harnesses with life lines and secure anchor points should be used.
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