More Grain Dust Explosions; Fewer Injuries and Fatalities

(WEST LAFAYETTE, IN) An increase in grain dust explosions was reported nationally at grain handling, feed manufacturing and biofuel facilities in 2018. However, according to an annual report issued by Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, the number of injuries and fatalities from these explosions were down from the previous year. There were 12-grain dust explosions in 2018 compared to seven the previous year and a ten-year average of 8.4 incidents annually. One fatality and four injuries were attributed to the 2018 explosions, compared to five deaths and 12 injuries in 2017. Facilities at which the explosions occurred included two feed mills, two ethanol plants, and eight-grain elevators. Many of the incidents last year were relatively minor and the higher number of incidents could likely be tied to an increase in grain production and handling. In last year’s explosions, the probable ignition source in three cases was hot machine bearings and sparks, while in nine cases the source could not be confirmed. Grain dust was positively identified as the fuel source in three of the explosions. Illinois and Iowa each reported two explosions in 2018, while Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas each reported a single incident.