Grain-Dust Explosions Increased in 2018

The number of grain-dust explosions that occurred in the U.S. increased in 2018, but injuries and fatalities declined, according to a newly released annual report by Purdue University researchers. Kingsly Ambrose, an associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering is the report’s lead author again this year.

Highly combustible, grain dust ignited by a spark from any source, such as static electricity or overheating of machinery, can cause an explosion. That’s why it is crucial to prevent it from building up inside grain mills and elevators.

Purdue researchers, who have been tracking the number of these explosions in the U.S. since 2012., say the annual average for these incidents is 8.4.  In 2018, there were 12 grain-dust explosions up from seven explosions in 2017.  The explosions last year resulted in four injuries and one fatality compare with 12 injuries and five fatalities in 2017.

One reason for the lower number of injuries is that many of the 2018 incidents were relatively minor, according to Ambrose. The serious incidents occurred in Nebraska where one person was killed and another was injured and in Iowa and Kansas where explosions each injured one person.

Ten states reported explosions last year. Illinois and Iowa reported two each. And the following eights states each reported one: Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas and Wisconsin. Eight of the 2018 explosions took place in grain elevators. Two occurred in feed mills and two happened in ethanol plants.