2020 grain dust explosions result in zero fatalities

Story by Emma Ea Ambrose

February 12, 2021

Kingsly Ambrose, Purdue University associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering, recently released the 2020 annual grain dust explosions report that catalogues the number of deaths and injuries nationwide.

Grain dust is a highly combustible substance and often airborne in handling and processing facilities. Explosions occur when there is a source of ignition, often from small, unintentional sparks within the facility.

According to the report, there were eight-grain dust explosions in 2020, resulting in zero fatalities and nine injuries. The 10-year average for injuries is 8.1; it is 1.7 for fatalities. The grain types identified in the explosions included two cases of corn, two wheat, two mixed feed, one rice and one dietary fiber. Dust explosions occurred in eight different states, one each in Kansas, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Texas, Nebraska, Missouri and Arkansas. Four of these explosions occurred in a grain elevator, and the remaining four in a feed mill, corn mill, rice mill and grain processor for dietary fiber.

Ambrose explained the importance of compiling these reports each year.

“Most companies use this information for training their employees,” Ambrose said. “Regulatory authorities also use incident reports for their training purposes. It helps with creating or spreading awareness on dust explosions and their causes.”

View the report.

Featured Stories

The walnut plantation at Martell Forest.

Detection & Prediction: How technology is fighting a future of tree diseases and invasive insects

The black walnut tree (Juglans nigra), prized for its rich, dark color in hardwood furniture and...

Research team explores genomic options to enhance honeybee resilience

Beekeepers lose between 30% and 40% of their colonies annually, mostly to parasites and...

Bello-Bravo, Pittendrigh and Medendorp (right) met with Maximo Torero (second from right), chief economist of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN, at the World Food Forum in Rome

Book offers on-the-ground lessons in international development

A new book by a Purdue team that is impacting extension around the world is designed to help...

Farmer sentiment improves, producers credit stronger financial conditions

Agricultural producers’ sentiment increased for the second consecutive month, as the Purdue...

Students gather at Purdue Summer Science Program on campus at Purdue

Donation takes Summer Science Program to the next level

If you’re on Purdue’s campus in the summer, you may notice a group of students...

Mary Strickland - Graduate Ag Research Spotlight

Mary Strickland is a lifelong animal lover — so much so that she admits to occasionally...