Quake damaged silos pose safety risk for farmers

Photo / Mark Mitchell

Farmers who don't seek expert advice about how to empty quake-damaged grain silos are dicing with death, Federated Farmers says.

Almost 70 silos have failed since the earthquake and Federated Farmers is warning of injury or death if damaged silos are not expertly inspected.

"As the ground continues to settle, the failed silo count is now at 69 and we expect the number will easily top 100," Federated Farmers Grain & Seeds Mid-Canterbury chairperson David Clark said.

"Given some reports of damage, we ask all farmers to now make a visual inspection of their urea silos as well. If you suspect any damage whatsoever then either call in an engineer if you own the silo, or the applicable fertiliser company if you lease it.

Failure to act could result in death, Clark said, adding that the Department of Labour would "rightly take a dim view of any unsafe work practices".

Clark said he was concerned at reports over some of the methods used to remove contents from silos that were leaning over.

"If any silo is structurally compromised then you must call in an engineer or the company which supplied it. They are the only ones qualified or equipped to safely remove contents from a damaged structure.

"We need to focus on the miracle that no one died directly from the earthquake. It would be a travesty if someone died in the recovery," Clark added.

- NZ HERALD ONLINE