A RECENT series of high-risk incidents involving the collapse of on-farm silos has put an urgent focus on grain growers to assess, and either maintain or decommission, older silos.
While well-maintained silos could last more than 30 years, growers needed to effectively check, assess and recognise when critical storage equipment was no longer fit for purpose or was structurally compromised.
GRDC grain storage specialist Chris Warrick said potential risks to family members or farm staff if a silo failed were serious, and there were also implications for grain or other losses.
Mr Warrick said if a silo was not structurally sound, he strongly encouraged growers to seek an alternative storage option, make repairs or decommission the silo to prevent further damage, injury or catastrophic failure of the silo.
“Storing pulses and fertilisers can be higher risk than cereal grains, with higher bulk density and different flow characteristics placing greater loads on silos which can cause them to fail if structural weak points are apparent in either the design, materials, corrosion, damage or modifications undertaken,” he said.
The well-known Australian expert said a checklist for growers assessing silo integrity should include:
• Is the foundation the silo is sitting on stable?
• Are the support legs and base rings free of damage and rust and in sound condition?
• Are the wall sheets free of damage and rust?
• Are all fixings (rivets and bolts) in sound condition?
• Is the ladder structure (if applicable) in sound condition for safe use?
• Does cleaning and operating the silo pose a safety risk?
GRDC is also warning growers to take extra care when out loading fertilisers as they absorb more moisture than stored grain.
The northern and western sides of silos often have lower moisture, with higher moisture in the southern side of the silo.
This can present risks when out loading with the dry side generally emptying first, and in the worst-case scenario this can also lead to silo collapse.
