Cadrien’s mission is clear: to ensure that grain workers can return safely to their families after a long day on the job. Her work is not just about compliance; it’s about creating a safer environment for all those who work in agriculture, reinforcing the idea that safety is a shared responsibility that affects families and communities alike.
In 2023, the agricultural sector experienced a significant decline in confined space incidents, particularly related to grain entrapment.
Agricultural confined space incidents, particularly those involving grain entrapment, saw a notable decrease. According to Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program, there was a 34% drop in overall confined space incidents from the previous year.
New findings reported no fewer than 55 cases involving agricultural confined spaces, with 29 fatal and 26 nonfatal cases. This represents a 33.7% decrease over the 83 cases documented in 2022.
Illinois had the highest total of confined space-related cases, 12, while Iowa had the second most cases with five; Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin had four cases each. Iowa had the most grain entrapment cases at five. Historically, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Illinois, and Nebraska have had the most grain entrapment cases, respectively.
Additional findings noted that three incidents involved more than one victim, two fatal cases dealt with livestock waste storage pits or lagoons, and nine grain dust explosions took place at commercial facilities resulting in 12 nonfatal injuries.
However, despite the drop in numbers, the severity of these incidents remains a major concern. Nearly 53% of all confined space incidents resulted in fatalities, and 59% of grain entrapment cases ended in death. Most of these accidents occurred in the Midwest, with Iowa leading in reported grain entrapments. The incidents involved grain storage, falls, asphyxiation, and equipment entanglements.
Grain entrapment remains a devastating, yet preventable, hazard. In rural farming communities, safety protocols are not enforced, and limited access to proper rescue equipment and training adds to the dangers.
A New Generation of Safety Advocates
Despite these challenges, a new generation of safety professionals is emerging, dedicated to reducing incidents and ensuring everyone returns home safely at the end of every work day. One powerful advocate is Cadrien Livingston.
At 26 years old, Livingston represents part of a new generation focused on grain safety. As the Midwest regional safety manager at Viterra. Her mission is deeply personal—her commitment to safety stems from a childhood tragedy when her father, Craig Livingston, died in a grain entrapment accident.
A Day That Changed Everything
In the early morning of April 29, 2008, life as Cadrien knew it was irrevocably altered. Only 10 years old at the time, she and her family were thrust into grief and uncertainty following the sudden death of her father.
Craig Livingston had gone to a neighbor’s grain bin to vacuum out 500 bushels of corn, a task that was part of his routine. But that day, something went wrong. Whether he slipped or the vacuum malfunctioned remains unclear. When the truck driver returned after moving the truck, all he saw were Craig’s hands, barely visible above the grain. Despite the truck driver’s efforts to rescue him and a quick response from emergency personnel, the local rescue team didn’t have a grain rescue tube or the training needed to handle a grain entrapment. It was too late for Craig, who tragically passed away, leaving behind his wife Valerie and their three daughters—Cadrien, 18-month-old Carlee, and two-week-old Cassie.
The Legacy of 88 Ranch
Years prior, and after a lot of hard work, Craig and Valerie fulfilled their dream when they purchased 88 Ranch in Orchard, NE. It was a place of joy and promise, a legacy they hoped to pass on to their children.
After Craig’s death, Valerie was faced with a monumental and difficult decision—sell the ranch and move, or stay and continue the life they had built. Valerie didn’t want to make the choice alone. Sitting down with Cadrien just days after the tragedy, she asked her oldest daughter what she thought.
“I remember just wanting our life to go back to normal,” Cadrien recalls. “I wanted my sisters to have the same opportunities I had, growing up on the ranch. It was important to me to keep our dad’s legacy alive.”
With that resolve, the Livingston family committed to staying on the ranch. That decision to stay sparked something in young Cadrien.
Over time, the Livingston family expanded their cattle operation, developed a customer base for their bulls, and ensured the survival of 88 Ranch. They became known as the “88 Ranch Gals,” a testament to their resilience and determination.
Turning Loss into Purpose
It’s important to note that Cadrien doesn’t dwell on the sorrow. Instead, she’s laser-focused on using Craig’s story to inspire change. “I want my dad’s legacy to be about saving lives,” she says, making it clear that the work she does today isn’t just a job—it’s a mission. “Grain safety isn’t something people think about every day, but when things go wrong, they go really wrong. My goal is to make sure that people go home safely to their families every night.”
Her path to becoming a safety manager was anything but typical. After earning a degree in agricultural communications from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she worked as a risk control consultant for an insurance brokerage, managing over 100 clients, half of whom were in the agricultural sector. When asked if she got the insurance experience for her career in safety she laughed. “I wish I was that smart! No one goes to college thinking they’ll work in the insurance industry, but it did help.”
At Viterra, Cadrien is responsible for overseeing safety at 20 grain handling facilities. Her work involves conducting safety audits, providing training, and reviewing work practices to ensure that employees are well-prepared and equipped for their jobs.
“Grain entrapment is a silent threat,” Cadrien explains. “Once grain is past your knees, escape becomes nearly impossible. If it rises past your chest, it can be fatal without rescue intervention.”
Cadrien’s advocacy doesn’t stop at facility audits. She actively encourages her colleagues to share their knowledge. “While you’re sitting at the dump pit with a truck driver, strike up a conversation about safety,” she says. “Bring up the dangers of grain entrapment. Sharing knowledge is one of the most important things we can do.”
Safety Beyond Grain Elevators
As a newly elected member of the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) board, her vision is to make safety a priority not just at grain facilities but for the farmers and workers who support the industry. “It’s about using her platform to bridge the gap between the safety protocols in place at grain elevators and the daily practices of the farmers they depend on.”
When asked to talk about her biggest achievement, she told a story about a simple safety initiative she launched during her time as an intern—creating a safety tips sheet for farmers. Thousands of copies were distributed, providing crucial information to grain handlers. “I’ll never know its full impact, but I’m confident it made a difference. On a much bigger level, that’s what GEAPS can do—provide resources and challenge the industry to protect not only the facilities but also the people.”
Sharing Stories that Save Lives
Cadrien’s unwavering dedication to grain safety is deeply personal. Drawing from her own experiences and specialized training, she navigates the complexities of safety management with authority, using her unique background to create real impact. For her, each safety audit, training session, and conversation serves as a tribute to her father’s legacy and a chance to save lives.
“Ultimately, my goal is simply to be able to spread farm safety around to anyone who wants to listen.”
5 Tips for Grain Handling Safety
1. Develop an Emergency Response Plan
While it is important to think about fires and explosions since they are the most common type of disaster in the grain handling industry, also be sure to address issues like flood, confined space rescue and weather conditions (i.e., tornado threats if you are in a vulnerable area).
If your facility has more than 10 employees – including office personnel and seasonal workers — then your emergency response plan must be written.
Your emergency response plan should address the employee alarm systems, the response duties of each employee, evacuation procedures, designated safe areas outside the facility and emergency escape routes, which should be clearly marked on floor plans and on workplace maps.
It is not enough that an emergency response plan exists in your facility; it is also important that your employees are aware of the procedures.
2. Develop a Training Program
OSHA requires new-hire training, annual training to refresh old employees and job specific training for anyone that is shifting responsibilities and is thus exposed to new hazards.
Employees should be properly trained on requirements for cleaning procedures for choked legs, housekeeping requirements, procedures for performing hot work, preventative maintenance and lockout/tag out procedures.
3. Require Hot Work Permits
You must issue a permit for all hot work being done in or near a grain handling structure, unless you as the employer are standing by to witness the hot work being done.
The permit serves as a sort of checklist, confirming that the employee was properly trained to do the work and that he or she is aware of the emergency response plan in place should something go wrong.
The permit must be kept on file until the hot work is completely finished, though it is recommended that you keep it in your records after the work is finished.
4. Follow Grain Handling Industry Regulations for Entry into Bins, Silos and Tanks
You must issue a permit for an employee to enter any bin, silo or tank unless you, the employer, are present to supervise.
The bin, silo or tank must be tested for the presence of harmful gas, vapor or other toxic agents if there is reason to believe they might be present.
The bin, silo or tank must be tested for oxygen content before the employee enters and while the employee is inside to ensure proper ventilation.
“Walking down grain” and entering in bridging or buildup conditions are strictly prohibited.
Employees entering the storage structure must be given a body harness, lifeline or boatswains chair.
There must be an observer present outside the storage structure that could provide assistance in case of emergency and that maintains communication with the employee inside the structure.
5. Understand the Requirements for the Grain Handling Industry
As the employer, you must inform contractors who are performing work at your facility of known potential fire or explosion hazards related to their work or work area.
You must remove any grain dust accumulation that is in excess of 1/8 inch.
The use of compressed air to blow away accumulated dust is only allowed when machinery presenting an ignition source is shut down.
Receiving pit openings must be covered by grates.
From the September/October 2024 Grain Journal