Man dies after 5 hours trapped in grain silo

[Deleted]

www.uticaod.com/breaking/x1538448790/Firefighters-attempt-to-rescue-man-buried-in-silo-on-Wurz-Ave

What a shame. I went over to watch. That seed in the silo would act just like quick sand. UTICA — A worker was pronounced dead this afternoon after sinking into about 12 feet of cottonseed in a silo on Wurz Avenue this morning, Fire Chief Russell Brooks said at 2:15 p.m.

The incident was reported shortly before 8:45 a.m. at Harbor Point Minerals at 71 Wurz Ave.

Police Sgt. Steven Hauck said the worker — who was trapped for more than five hours — was located around 10:30 a.m. He was removed from the silo at about 2:20 p.m.

Workers at the scene said that the worker is a man in his mid twenties. He was working in the silo when he somehow came detached from a safety tether. Workers saw him sink into the seed.

Utica firefighters entered the grain silo as they attempted to free the man. They laid down planks of wood inside the silo so they could move without sinking into the material.

Rescuers earlier smashed through the side of the silo with a sledgehammer and jackhammer as seed poured out onto the ground. They also used public works trucks from the Utica, New Hartford and Whitesboro to suck the product out of the silo.

"It's a hectic moment, and I'm sure it's scary for the workers and all the people who are here," Hauck said.

It appears that the worker fell more than 40 feet down the silo into the starch-coated cottonseed. Two other workers had been inside the silo attempting to dig him out.

[Clipper]

I know it sounds like I have worked everywhere in the world but I used to work there many years ago when it was Ogden Grain Co, originally a locally owned company and in later years when I worked there it was a division of Barber and Bennett Feed Company of Port of Albany NY. I have been in those silos on many occasions. I started there as a truck driver but was promoted to assistant manager, which entailed going in on Saturdays and climbing each silo and bin to measure the depth of grain for inventory purposes. I would measure the distance to the top of the remaining grain, and figure the cubic feet and then convert it to tons in order to order more grain. I guess I was one that was constantly on the move for a few cents more an hour until I finally got the job at Griffiss AFB.

Loose seed grains such as what was stored in this particular silo are just like quicksand if you fall into them. The more you struggle the more you sink and settle into the grain. Very tragic accident. One should never be allowed at the top off, or down into those silos and bins without the proper tether and safety lines in place. I am sure that OSHA will be getting to the bottom of it and investigating the circumstances. Very sad for the family as well has his co-workers.

[Deleted]

In the past two day what terrible ways to die. Burning to death in a fire or suffocating to death in a grain silo. Although I remember learning somewhere that a paerson in a fire like that one would first die of suffication. Apparently when a body is surrounded by fire like that the lungs will naturally relax which causes the air in the lungs to rush out rapidly and the fire to quickly rush in. Horribly way to die. Hopefully some funeral director will take on the cost of preparing the bodies for some type of funeral.

It is nice to know Clipper that you have had so many different types of work experience. No wonder you have so much to offer.

[Clipper]

The Utica Daily News site just released the young man's name. He was Craig Bernier of Mohawk NY, 24 years old. How very sad. A young man goes off to work, never to return home for supper, as his life is ended by such a sad accident

[bobbbiez]

My heart and prayers go out to this young man's family, friends and co-workers who tried so hard to save him. So sad.

[JGRobinson]

Silo's are very dangerous. I used to work lots of farms and that was the place I liked the least, cleaning out the Bull Pen was a close #2. Air Pockets, Methane, no safety gear and the old stuff stunk like Hogans Goat! Only the rich ones had silo unloaders and they were always jamming. Farmer always said, stay close to the edge, keep good hold of the pitch Fork, if you start sinking, turn it sideways quick, dont wiggle, and start yelling!

Very sad...

[firstamendment]

I did not think there would be a good outcome to this yesterday when the story broke. Sank into the grains and most likely suffocated. Silos are a very dangerous place. They figure he fell from about 40 feet so he probably sank pretty far down just from the fall.

[Clipper]

Gosh that brings back memories JR. Sorking on farms as a teen surely made a man out of my citified ass, haha. It was one hell of a way to start your day. Climbing a 60 or 80 foot silo ladder at about 4:30 AM and then shoveling enough silage with a fork to feed 60 or 80 cows. It definitely gets your blood pumping and wakes your sleepy ass up, haha. You are right. That stuff did stink, and yes, the gasses could be very dangerous. I had a friend years ago that had to be rescued from a silo near Booneville when he passed out as a result of being overcome by fumes from Sudan Grass ensilage. I don't know if a person still has to go into the silos they build today in order to remove the ensilage. I think they unload from the bottom now. Outdoor, open concrete bunkers are much safer and easier to work with. Serve the "girls" their breakfast with a Bobcat instead of an ensilage fork, haha.

My prayers go up for the Bernier family and all of Craig's friends, and coworkers. It is a horrible shock when one dies so suddenly and tragically at a young age.

[JGRobinson]

I had some some silo squeeze moonshine a couple times, nasty stuff but it would light you up! If they are still using silos, most have unloaders, blows it right down the ladder shaft. Always plugging up though.

[countrygal]

This is one reason we don't use our silos anymore. They are dangerous but they are very inefficient and create alot of spoilage. That silo had starched cotton seed in it which makes it just like grain. We use cotton seed but it's not starched and you can walk right on top of it. I give the UFD a ton of credit. They certainly aren't used to having to deal with silo rescues.