The report found that there were five grain dust explosions in 2016, which is down from eight in 2015, and down even more from the 9.2 average over the past 10 years. Kingsley Ambrose, Assistant Professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University, said that, “The two most important factors in preventing an explosion are keeping the facilities clean and the equipment in good working condition. If the facility is clean, then the amount of potential fuel is minimized. If the equipment is in good working condition, there is less chance of ignition.”
Unfortunately, these five explosions also contributed to the first fatality from a grain dust explosion since 2013, killing three people total. Two were from Indiana, and one was from Georgia. The reported causes of ignition for these explosions were reported to be sparks and overheated bearings on conveyor belts.
It’s important to remember that just because the number is going down does not mean anyone can get complacent. As Ambrose said when interviewed about the report, ““We can be happy that the number of explosions is down, but it’s important to stay vigilant.”
Ambrose had one last bit of advice for helping to prevent grain dust explosions by staying aware: “I always tell people to keep their eyes, nose and ears open – if you see something strange, hear an odd noise or smell something unusual, then that’s the time to shut down and check all the equipment.”
