The best way to stay safe when handling grain is doing everything possible to keep grain in good condition. Gary Woodruff says that starts with preparing the bin for a new crop and continues until you load out the last bushel.

Woodruff, a district sales manager for GSI in northern Indiana and a grain management specialist, answers questions about grain storage and safe practices when handling grain.

Related: Monitoring stored grain should be top priority

If hot spots develop or I see mold, what should I do? In today’s big bins, it’s very unlikely that any amount of aeration will fix hot spots or stop mold. Run aeration to slow down out-of-condition issues, but the only way to eliminate them is unloading the bin until all hot spots or moldy corn have been removed. Once you think all bad grain is out, you can leave the rest, but watch very carefully for flare-ups.

What precautions should I take to stay safe while working with grain still in bins? First, do not enter the bin. Doing so always involves risk. If the bin must be entered, follow advice from a land-grant university website about precautions.

If you follow recommendations for moisture content for grain going into the bin for length of storage; make sure grain temperature stays in the optimal ranges and clean; and core repeatedly while loading the bin, it’s almost certain you won’t see out-of-condition grain. You avoid anyone needing to enter bins. Authorities would avoid needing to rescue someone because of entrapment stemming from dealing with out-of-condition grain.

As we empty a bin, what precautions should I take? Do not enter the bin or any truck being loaded. Only pull grain from the center well of the bin until the grain is down to the well. Then, open the auxiliary wells to expose any sweep equipment before removing more grain. Be careful around sweeps, belts and moving devices. Keep all grates and shields in place. Use fall protection whenever possible. Use electrical lock-out, tag-out procedures so no equipment runs when anyone is inside or near bins, augers or other equipment.

How do I prepare empty bins for harvest? Insect infestations and mold often come from debris from the previous storage year. Since a bin is an enclosed space, it can still be a health danger when empty. Always wear recommended breathing protection. A registered N95 mask or more effective masks with forced filtered air will protect you from dust and mold. Once the bin is empty, clean any grain and residue off walls and floor.

Use a recommended insect preventive treatment at the floor flashing and entrance points, such as the fan transition and discharge auger locations. Follow label instructions for proper usage and application. Keep the storage site free of weeds and debris to make it less hospitable to vermin. Use bait stations to eliminate those that show up. Long-term debris can build up under the floor, providing a food source for vermin. Too much buildup of debris can affect air distribution or become a fire hazard in a drying bin. In that case, remove the floor and clean out debris.