Comments on: Bizarre accident: Worker dies after being trapped in grain bin

By: Latarsha Pouge

Latarsha Pouge — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 03:57:46 +0000

Do you have to manually turn the tumbler or do they make automatic ones?

By: Chris Turner

Chris Turner — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 22:20:18 +0000

John Maynard,

The mother: Veronica Rigsby, was very angered by the incident as well as emotional because of the rules that were ignored. The worst part was that this was her second son lost in less than 2 years.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 19:52:07 +0000

Yes, I agree with the previous posts, definately could have titled this story more appropriately. It was not bizarre at all. It was a tragic and predictable accident which would have been prevented if the proper procedures were put in place.

By: John Maynard

John Maynard — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:17:19 +0000

This specific type of accident happens all too often and has received significant publicity in the past. Everyone in authority at the elevator who was involved in this underage youth performing high hazard work should be prosecuted for manslaughter at the very, very minimum.

No one should ever be sent into an elevator to perform this type of operation without personal fall arrest equipment and a confined space permit system activated.

Further, since this type of accident is so prevalent, I do not understand why no one has developed a mechanical design/method to perform this type of work, rather than putting a human being at risk.

There should be no excuses.

I pity the boy’s parents that went along with having him work illegally (due to age and high hazard) at this operation. The guilt – and anger – will be tremendous.

Occupational Safety and Health Program Coordinator
CCBC

By: Brady Arnold

Brady Arnold — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:20:09 +0000

This shouldn’t be called a bizarre accident. That gives it the connotation of never happening. As has been mentioned before, it happens all too frequently. In the midwest and plains you don’t have to go very far to find someone who is once removed from someone who died in this kind of accident. I knew a person who walked out onto a crusted over trench silo and was buried when the crust broke through.
Part of the trouble is that more people know someone who has died like this than have heard about an OSHA audit of a company they know. (until after the accident)

By: Brad Bousquet

Brad Bousquet — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 16:47:51 +0000

Isaac,

These types of accidents happen too frequently. As a safety director for several Nebraska elevators I can assure you that this story will leave an impact on all of our employees. While his death was tragic and senseless let it be known that some good will come from sharing this story. It is unfortunate that the grain company that he worked for did not have the proper grain safety procedures in place. OSHA has very clear rules about grain bin entry procedures. Every year workers are killed because companies ignore these rules. I question why they had a seventeen year old performing this type of work? It is a very sad story.

By: Isaac Snyder

Isaac Snyder — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 01:50:54 +0000

Cody was a good friend of mine and this was a sensless tragic accident Ionly hope that His death will not be in vain and that we will implement all the proper safety procedures and get our workforce educated to ensure this tragedy never happens again. May He rest in peace