Only Seven Grain Dust Bin Explosions in 2021

Purdue University released its yearly report on grain dust bin explosions, citing seven incidents in 2021 in sic states. That is one less incident in 2020 when eight incidents were tallied. 

That ticks down the 10-year average to be 8.0 per year, reducing it from 8.1. 

One note by report author, Kingsly Ambrose, highlights that in 2021 there was one fatality and five injuries. 

Sites of the explosions included:

• one feed mill
• one ethanol plant
• one grain mill 
• four grain elevators

Locations of the explosions were: 

• two in Minnesota
• one in Georgia
• one in Idaho
• one in Indiana
• one in Iowa 
• one in Oregon

Ambrose shares the probable ignition sources were one case of a fire, two incidences of smoldering grain, and four cases with unknown sources. And the fuel sources for the explosions were identified as grain dust in five cases, and the other three were unknown. 

“Grain dust acts as a fuel for these explosions, and all it takes is a small spark for ignition to occur,” Ambrose said. “Controlling grain dust can significantly reduce the possibility and severity of explosions. Simple and effective housekeeping is the first line of defense.”