Keith Bolsen, professor emeritus of cattle nutrition at Kansas State University, has a warning for those who develop or are planning to develop a corn silage program: Few farming operations invite as many different opportunities for injury or death.

At the recent silage conference near Mead, Bolsen detailed tragedies caused by bunker silo collapses and packing tractor rollovers. "A silage avalanche can occur anywhere, anytime, in any bunker silo or drive-over pile, without warning," he told attendees.

Bolsen spelled out several commonsense guidelines that lessen the chance of a fatality or serious accident caused by a silage avalanche:

SILAGE SAFETY: At a recent silage conference, Keith Bolsen, professor emeritus of cattle nutrition at K-State, detailed tragedies caused by bunker silo collapses and packing tractor rollovers. "A silage avalanche can occur anywhere, anytime, in any bunker silo or drive-over pile, without warning," he said.

1. Never allow people to approach the feedout face. No exceptions.

2. A rule of thumb is never stand closer to the silage face than three times its height.

3. Suffocation is a major concern and a likely cause of death in any silage avalanche, so follow the "buddy rule" and never work in or near a bunker silo alone.

4. Bunker silos and drive-over piles should not be filled higher than the unloading equipment is able to reach.

5. Be careful when removing plastic or oxygen-barrier film, tire sidewalls, or gravel bags near the edge of the feedout face.

6. Do not remove surface-spoiled silage from bunkers and piles that have been filled to an unsafe height.

7. Use proper unloading techniques, which include shaving silage down the feedout face.

8. Never dig the bucket into the bottom of the silage. Undercutting creates an overhang of silage that can loosen and tumble to the floor.

9. Never drive the unloader parallel to and in close proximity of the feedout face in an overfilled bunker or pile.

10. When sampling silage, take samples from a front-end loader after it has been moved to a safe distance from the loadout face.

11. Never ride in a front-end loader bucket.

12. Never park vehicles or equipment near the feedout face.

13. Post a warning sign — Danger! Silage face might collapse! — around the perimeter of the bunker silo or driver-over pile.

14. Avoid being complacent. Always pay attention to your surroundings, and never think that an avalanche cannot happen.

15. Every farm, feedlot and beef cattle operation should have safety policies and procedures for their silage program. Schedule regular meetings with all employees to discuss safety.

McCabe writes from Lincoln.