A Tragic Farm Accident: Death in the Silo | The New York Times
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- The United States is producing more grain than ever, for food, feed, and commercial applications like ethanol. But as other farm work has gotten safer, gruesome grain bin accidents persist.
As a layperson (28 years teaching British Literature and American literature), this is a world I had NO idea existed. I have always held farmers in great regard. My mother and father instilled a strong work ethic (Mom owned a paint and interior store, Color Craft, and my dad was a civil/petroleum engineer in Houston). As a young student, I painted interior and exterior during breaks to earn money. One summer in a crew of 6 women, we pressured washed (other processes too) the outside of River Oaks Baptist Church). For just one month alone, I was in a bucket lift repairing and painting stucco. I guess I should land the plane...I am NOT averse to hard work, but ANYONE who does ANY silo work has my DEEPEST RESPECT. Knowing the risks and still doing that work is IMPRESSIVE!!!!
Sorry you lost your son mom. I can’t even imagine the grief you had to of felt and still feel today, everyday. My heart goes out to you & your family. R.I.P. Tommy.
I know nothing of farm life because I have been born and raised in the city, this video's topic is completely new to me. It saddens me that things like this still occur in a time where we have such advanced technology that I am sure has spread to the agriculture industry. My prayers go out to Tommy's family and friends in their time of grief.
I'm a farmer and this is atrocious. High moisture/fermenting corn in a silo and you send your workers in when the pile is high enough to bury him 20 FEET? It had to be 25 feet higher than him to do so! I'll enter a bin (an actual bin, not a silo) when the grain is flowing to empty it either enough to install a sweep (horizontal auger that directs grain to the center unload) or to push it to the center unload, then shovel, then sweep with a broom to fully clean the bin. Somewhat dangerous, as if you slip your leg could get trapped in the unload auger if it doesn't have a guard, you always need to be careful. But in regards to the bridged corn example, if the grain isn't being augered out and the grain is that high, that should indicate to you that you have a severe bridging issue and to proceed cautiously. Old mechanically driven grinder mixers can be dangerous with roller chains and exposed bevel gears, I think about slipping on mud while walking around it and my hand getting drawn in by the gears or if my clothes would catch them, some of the gears on my grinder have no protection. The chains are shielded, though. Pushing in "leaves" of square bales into the hammermill to get a bit of ground hay in the mix....I don't think your arm would ever reach them unless you were careless but I always thought about that when I used to add hay. And always be mindful when unplugging or oiling the chains on a corn head on a combine if you leave it running (you absolutely shouldn't do these operations with it running but I do, seriously just don't do it!). Be safe and have fun farming!
It's no wonder you are still alive. You sound like a considerate, careful and thoughtful man. Sadly most people, and kids especially don't have the mechanical aptitude to know what to be afraid of and need to be taught explicitly to think the way you do.
@@stopthephilosophicalzombie9017 Herein is the problem. How is his knowledge getting out to younger farmers who are not on his farm or community?
@@marcosmota1094 It's not, I guess.
@Sherman T. Potter Ah, the 'ol "do as I say, not as I do" mantra that ensures your message will fall on deaf ears.
I have been handling grain all my working life (I am 63) and if you are careful there is little danger of getting hurt. I routinely clean out grain bins and 30 years ago cleaned out silos as well. Never have been injured bad enough to go to a doctor. Think ahead about what could go wrong and how to avoid it.
Kids need to be taught to say no. There is no harm in refusing to do a job if you suspect it to be life threatening. I've worked on different farms since I was 13 and I've turned down a few jobs myself.
Exactly!! You can't be fired for saying no.
They think they're indestructible
Well, you can be fired for saying no... So, yeah.
@@travisjohnson8240 I'm assuming you meant "fired" and so what? Get fired or die, your choice.
@@EasternExplorer Exactly, no job is worth my life. I've done alot of dangerous things and overcome fears associated with it but I also have refused to do a couple of things. The boss(es) got made but didn't fire me.
A farmer with a grain silo claims he didn't know about the risk of sinking into the grain and being suffocated? I find that very hard to believe. I'm not a farmer and have never worked on a farm, and even I knew about that.
Years ago, I ask my mother were my brother was? She told me he went to work for some farmer for a day. I drove out there and the farmer said he was in the old silo scooping corn, while they were trying to empty it. I climbed up and hollered to my brother to come out and climb down with me. He ask what's wrong? I gave him a short explanation of why he shouldn't be in there, and turned around and chewed that farmer out one side and down the other. That guy didnt say a word, if he didn't know the danger of someone in those silos, he did when I was done talking. We got in our cars and drove off.
I've been driving tractor sence I was 6 years old and still do
Bronco Pulling Team i been doing it since 10 and still am
Drop Shot Outdoors ...agree I was 8 when I first sat on one of those old 1950s tractors........they may be safer now a days.....but farming will always be dangerous......and that's what must be taught to the kids! Not
Pablo Grenade honestly you comment is gold
Wow so cool thanks for telling me
I've pulled up my pant zipper 132,000 times without incident.
how about instead of banning kids form operating machinery you make farmers have the proper equipment. this was caused because the bins equipment wasn't right.
Education!! Not regulation!! Just like the woman said in the video.
I call BS on the farmer not knowing about the risks of grain entrapment. Education isn’t enough when the owners refuse to implement basic safety procedures.
the owner of the farm was cheap and i keep Tommy's family in my prayers after watching this. This farm owner should have been taken to court by the family. the owner of the farm should also use bins to hold corn not silos and he should have fixed the augers
farmall skittle so you’re saying that he should have replaced the solos that are there, that literally most every fairy farm uses, and replace them with bins that take up much more space, and are not as efficient for his operation. It’s not the silo. It’s the management of the farm and the fact that he should have known what he was getting this kid into and put a harness system into the silo. Or he should have fixed the auger at some point before.
Concrete silos are a poor substitute for metal grain bins. Tall and small diameter. Easy to crawl in and have an avalanche cover you up.
Dale Fry....Ummm, bins are just as easy to crawl into and you can die under an avalanche of grain as well. Try again...
That poor family😔 imagine having to drive by silos everyday and being constantly reminded of your sons death. Rip🖤
R.I.P. Tommy :(
Adikos125 Tommy
If I were his family I would have sued them so badly I would have owned that farm and everything on it !!!!!! Pluss any other valued assets they may have owned, vehicles and all ,cash ,back accounts all of it !!!!!! That farm should have been shut down and sold and all moneys going to his parents !!!!! That's was a criminal neglect!!!!!!!
I live in Standish, i Knew tommy R.I.P. Tommy osier
Oh he was a doll this hurts my heart for his family, his momma I couldn't help it she made me cry... RIP such a loss
I have to disagree. This is not a new hazard, it has been identified for DECADES and it's inexcusable that it is still a problem. I feel for Tommy's family and also feel for the rescuers considering a good number of them probably knew Tommy personally.
It is sad and inexcusable. I grew up in farm country and know a lot about his type of equipment. The silo is equipped with an auger which is used to convey the corn out of the silo. The auger wasn't working and instead of fixing it, Tommy's boss made these boys go in the silo to get the grain out. It was entirely avoidable.
kaysandesses same this was all very avoidable it gets me so upset how many lives have been lost working with or near by heavy machine and industry and no safety or very little safety is taken or these procedures are being done
as a mom I feel sorry for the lady so sad .that's any mother's night mare losing your child may he rest in peace poor kid..
God bless the women that lost her son!
William Murphy i always get the chills watching these videos of work related accidents😢
Only God can get her through this
This was my brother. This is the first time I have seen this video. My mom has continued to do public speaking on farm safety. She is doing well. Thank you for the kind words.
She’s against any more government regulations on minors as employees do not much sympathy here.
dear God this has been killing people since the beginning of time. BUT we should dang well be past this specific danger. There's NO way any human should ever get under TONS of feed. Specifically we do handle INCREDIBLE amounts of grain now that it's in everything. Teenage boys are not disposable. They dont need to be "walking the corn" the hard thing is sorting laws so that teens are not banned from farm work, but that this specific issue of grain storage, gets sorted out ASAP.
You hit the nail on the head
This is just so tragic it breaks my heart . And It could have been prevented!!
Never, ever, ever, EVER enter a silo with grain in it. EVER!
This poor kid just didn't know. And the owner should have made sure he KNEW.
No excuse, I was raised on farms, my old made sure we all knew better when it came to farm hazards and silos are incredibly hazardous.
Sadly, silo deaths are still happening every year and there's no good reason for it.
I love the way that the NY times puts a liberal spin on a tragic death. Ethanol or feed corn is not at fault for this,,, and neither is children working on family farms. RIP Tommy and shame on you liberal hatchet men and women for the liberal distortion!
This has gotten much worse in the interim since you wrote this comment. There is almost zero straight reporting left anymore. I don't even bother reading the NYT. What a trash liberal rag.
If it weren't for regulations...you'd be dead. If you don't want regulations, go to China. Hey Obama "rolled over and played dead" on the regs. Sounds like the kinda guy you must like.
Liberal media always finds a way to twist a story. These days you have to take everything with a grain of salt
@Jo Gill And think they know it all at the same time.
This happens on farms no matter what because people always need corn. These liberals just don’t understand
or maybe they need to enforce currently existing regulations, such as negligent homicide charges.
the step brother of one my cousins accidently slipped and fell in to a corn silo and the corn came down and suffocated him.
Im sorry for all those families that have lost someone close and dear to them
Some fairly high-profile farming YT channels still do this risky practice and show it in their videos. The attitude to safety can be very sketchy. Many will argue strongly about their rights to risk life in so many words. When it's an employee's life though...
how very so sorry for this young man life.so really stranger.
I love how people from the cities who never worked a day on a farm know what is best. I love how the NYT picks a situation that should have never occurred do to misfeasance. I'm sure these operate were sued as they should have been. But what right do you all from NY have to tell us what is safe. I guess it's normal for "liberals" to need more regulation to feel more free. I know of lots of tragedies. 99% percent of them could have been easily avoided but so goes with car accidents, and other activities.
To be a safe and effective farmer, you need gumption that is guided by logic and proper training. Look at this accident scene, ruclips.net/video/CozDQseCk0w/видео.html , and tell me if the *geometry and physics makes any sense.* How was this tractor operator going to pull 50,000 lbs over a 45-degree incline from a tractor that had no traction. Literally the machine has the word "traction" in it's name, and it can't pull any more. Gee. Maybe it's time to go full stop and think things through.
Here's a genius pulling a fence post with a truck and a tire: ruclips.net/video/vcskAyeCE1A/видео.html
It's a *great* idea, but implemented in the stupidest way possible. Look at the tire right next to his knee. It it had exploded out, the whole wheel would have smashed his knee. What if the chain had snapped? Why not use heavy webbing strap and a larger tire rim that has a central channel for the webbing, and lateral stability to keep from blowing out? But again, we folks in the city don't know anything it.
@@marcosmota1094 LOVE worksafe BC's videos, they are always good quality, especially the re-enactment ones.
Marcus Mota...You find 2 ag industry accident videos and suddenly the urban dwelling population of America needs to show us country bumpkins how to work safely? Never been an industrial accident in an urban setting? A construction accident in an urban setting? Get over yourself....
my uncle was building a 55-foot silo and the roof gave way
...wow, I did not know of this kind of danger, ...love to Tommys family.
"These kinds of regulations can be introduced in state legislatures"
Yes, they can but they're not. If the states would have taken measures to keep workers safe then the Department of Labor wouldn't have had to take on the task. Don't blame the federal government for being forced to do the States' work for them.
Scary. The corn dislodged his jaw... yikes... :(
My dads friend peter in high school was chopping some grass at night and was trying to fix the deck and clutch got engaged some how and he got sucked into it and got all cut up and bled out and died, his dad saw the tractor running in the middle of the field for 1 hr ing the same spot and walked out there and saw him bleeding all over but it was too late😬☹️😐😭
Don't know what happened but I have to think it was preventable.
Why would he work on the deck without the tractor SHUT OFF, or at least with the pro disengaged?
Natural selection Smh
@@travisjohnson8240 it was at night, probably needed the tractors lights. PTO was disengaged, he said it came on while he was working on it. Be respectful man. Farmers feed us all, and more people get killed in that industry than any other.
That's so sad. Sorry for their loss
$3500 fine really how bout 2 years in prison for MR. schawb for not knowing all of the risks and not fixing the auger when it was broken
And the fine went to the govt not the victim's FAMILY go figure, so the govt in effect makes money off things like this.
He did know the risks
I agree that in this situation that may be warranted. I was speaking more generally about the fed having to step in when states aren't protecting their citizens.
Farming is dangerous. We start from the time our kids are babies teaching how to be safe around all equipment.
The corn or any grain for that matter moves too fast. There's no time to jump out of the way.
Crazy...you would think someone would come up with a better way to do that job or technology that could do it.
Crazy... YOU think people can pay for that.
Why didn't Tommy leave the hatch open so that when the 20 tons of corn started to come down he could jump out of the silo?
Jesus Chavez, Tommy was 10 FT OR SO OFF THE ground and fell into the corn and then was buried by the falling corn. He was my brother.
@@joeosier707 god be with you I'm so sorry man
Joe Osier So sorry you lost your brother. Know that Tommy’s always with you, don’t ever forget that. Please don’t ever stop talking to him or about him. I can’t imagine the grief you & your family must have went and continue to go thru everyday. Again, I’m sorry..R.I.P always Tommy Osier. 💕🙏💕🙏💕🙏💕🙏
@@joeosier707im honestly sorry for your loss my prayers with you all love you tommy rip 🪦
My uncle was chopping bales with a straw thrower to feed the herd but the twine was jammed in the choppers he was young and left the tractor running as well as the pot he pulled the twine and the straw choppers strarted going luckily there was a emergency switch but his whole arm was shredded but luckily he survived but now has to farm with a mechanical arms
Yes silos are very dangerous
He should be tried for negligent homicide and if what you're saying is confirmed I think they would have a good case for this.
I'm surpsrised harnesses haven't been introduced
they should sell rescue tubes with silos as standard
live every day by the look of this silo, it is well over 30 years old or so. Family farms don’t exactly update the stuff when new stuff comes out. No need to
Life is an odds game, so far I'm winning. I grew up on a farm. I couldn't begin to count how many times I shovel corn grain from a silo. Or how many days spent stacking hay in a 100 degree plus barn loft.
Now middle aged, I am still playing the odds working in the heavy equipment field. Nothing is safe, not even driving to work.
Farmer was more worried about the price of pulltabs and beer, not silo safety, truth, boom 💥
i have worked in silos a lot.u do not think about something happening until it happens
My heart goes out to the Osier family.
Thank you sir.
so sad sorry for your loss
If the States would recognize the issues and act upon them then their constituents wouldn't feel compelled to go over their heads, so to speak. Every state has its own agency charged with regulating work environments and this isn't a new problem. People have been dying in grain storage accidents as long as grain has been stored and handled this way. I'm not advocating the fed gov. sticking its nose where it doesn't need to.
😭 I feel sad for his family and I've drove tractors and loaders and combined since I was 6
R.I.P Tommy
I can’t believe they fined the family after their kid died
My bad I thought the owner of the farm was the kids family
What farm was this? Where?
Such a terribly sad story there must be some other safety mechanisms for workers or youngsters
Negligent homicide would still apply, but would be more difficult to prosecute seeing as you would need to prove he did not understand the risks of doing what he was doing, or that the employer intentionally prevented him from knowing those risks.
One of the sad things about living in a free society is that adults have to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions, this is the lesser of two evils.
Reminds of Victorian times when they sent boys up chimneys as sweeps.
I see this every year when I go to the state fair
why did the corn fall on him?
Order a minor to do a known dangerous action, face negligent homicide charges...you would be amazed at how few of these would occur.
These kinds of regulations can be introduced in state legislatures, there is no reason why every little god damn thing needs to be handled by the department of labor (completely not even authorized by the constitution I would note)
Indiana state fair I think I was there. For my 4-h project when they were giving that demo
Did this happen in the Honeycutt farm?
exactly - seemed like a simple fix to make. Fix the augers and the problem is solved. Going into a silo is a terrible idea.
Agreed. 18 year old kid , just didn't know better.
I know the area and it's all farm country. I'm continually surprised when this happens because farm country folks should know better.
Is it just gray naugers, or are white and black naugers affected too?
There has to be a better way to do whatever it is they do when they enter the silo. We can put people in space but can't find a better wayto clean silos or something so people.won't die !
That's rude and uncalled for.
sad
As usual in USA lobbies, although they exist in all countries, are easily the stronger and safety regulations in this country can be called Middle Ages (or Chinese for that matter) as compared to Europe.
Dying at an early age is a sad thing.
Dying at work at any age should not happen. Solutions exist. They MUST be implemented.
So sad. Rest in Peace.
Ah, but why do politicians who are much easier to follow and influence as a individual citizen, NOT protecting their citizens.
Its actually pretty simple, people don't even bother with their state and local politicians, they have a problem and their first thought is going to their federal representative.
How are states supposed to govern when their citizens don't consult them and simply go over their head to institute policies nation wide.
Why make driveing a tractor and farm chores illegal for kids?
I have all ways been told if it is dangers you do it!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't go in bins I've had close calls to close way to dangerous
It's sad that this young man died. Perhaps if the politicians wouldn't have foolishly added other elements such as driving tractors and other routine farm work, something could have been done in Washington to aid in the prevention of future deaths.
NOW it gets fixed?!
Yeah tragedy first repair second
Yeah, NOW it gets fixed after it killed someone, go figure...
Poor Guy
Careful 'a tha' corn now, yaw hear?!
I’m 12 and have been driving a tractor since I was 5, And will for the rest of my life. Farming is simply a way of life.
An awesome way of life🇺🇸
Pay attention and don't get too complacent or the rest of your life may not be too time.
Hey, we r alike. I have been driving mostly combines since before I know. I'm 12. Also, based on your profile pic, I would assume you support police along with me?
I grew up on a farm. There are dangers everywhere but that can be said about other work places too. Be careful and always alert.
As far as the young dying, that happens elsewhere too. It is generally the young and/or the inexperienced because the inexperienced make mistakes, don't know better, and/or are given the jobs others don't want to do. The same goes for the "new guy" on the job. Regulations help but won't prevent everything.
Rest in peace to those we lost.
and they say losing your job to a machine is a bad thing
The children of the corn...
Shut up
@Fisher Man LMAO!!!
So how did the corn get on top of him I don't get it
By "walking down the grain"
Resting in peace
God this is sad it actually did happen to my friend during harvest
Sorry for your loss. This is so sad
It makes me furious that ppl that most of the time have never worked on a farm or even never seen a farm think they can just regulate things in our lives. Most of the time these are liberals. With all of their rules nothing would get done on a farm or it would work very slowly. I work on my families farm and do things like this everyday, but at least i know all the hazards and what could hapen if something went wrong. Stay safe and keep farmin yall
My dad used to do the same thing and he once had to throw his shovel into the auger to stop it.
He should just turn IT off
Well, on the bright side he probably didn't feel anything because of trauma-induced shock.
I am more upset about the veil.
Hey, if these farmers want to play Russian Roulette with their children’s lives, that’s up to them. Unfortunately! And Mr. Swabb should have been charged at the very least with negligent manslaughter.
That's why we have bunkers.
R.I.P. bro :(
How long did Dave and don farm for ? 3 years? Didn't know of dangers of waking on dry corn? Bull........hummm SOULD we walk on quick sand? And on,y a 3,500. Fine geez theses two men SOULD not be farming!
he looks like its time to stop guy with the sunglasses
You people don’t know the farm way of life I work on a farm and I am still kicking and I have been driving tractors 8
🏆
Thomas Birk what does driving tractors have to do with being entrapped by corn? Tommy was my brother and he knew how to drive tractor too. So what's your point?
Sounds to me like not only was Tommy put in a dangerous situation, but he also may have had a learning disability. That is a bad combination for sure. His parents should have spoken to the farm owner/operator upon his first mention of going into the silo, job security be damned. It's doubtful the owner was unaware of Tommy's cognitive deficits (even farm laborers need to be able to listen to and process directions), but 18 or not, his mother should have made it clear he wasn't normal.
He didn't have a learning disability
Even farm laborers need to be able to listen to and process directions?
So, your saying farmers don't need to be as smart as other jobs?
he died :( thats so sad
Are those veal calves at 6:28?
those little cages help keep the calves safe, disease free, and help them get the proper amount of food and water everyday. they are cleaned daily.
***** Why are they in those little sheds?
@Phillip Holstein Thanks for the reply. I don't know much about the cattle industry, but I know enough to know that you guys get an unfair bad rap.
At the end of the day,we all take chances with our lives.There's a million other things in life that can take your life..All we can do is try to be careful.At the end of the day,something will eventually get us
What a primitive tractor at 30 sec.
Fixed now ,
Way to go, Obama. They can never raise the issue again while you're in office? How many lives will that cost?
R.I.P. Tommy.
+Phibes Lives Hi Phibes, I was raised on a dairy farm and returned to a dairy farm (my brother's), I can understand the farmer's plight and resistance. The way the law was formulated was too restrictive and whenever you have lawyers getting into this, you build a monster that becomes impossible to stop. Lawsuits follows, once you put a rule on paper, it often loses "common sense" and sadly enough, does more harm than spending money on proper education, help, advice to farmers. As a farmer, we have so many rules to abide by, it is almost dangerous for us to move machinery to our fields using county roads. It would be nice for lawmakers to research and discuss the issues with farmers before trying to shove something down our throats when they do not have to live with their own laws. Take care, Ciao, L
+Phibes Lives If the farming community wants to risk their young lives, let 'em. Given enough time and tragedy, they will either adopt the correct safety protocols, or parents will stop allowing their underage kids to do dangerous farm tasks. Nanny state solutions can only do so much.
That happend here
At school I was lol at because I'm a farmer y me😢