Years ago, I ask my mother were my brother was? She told me he went to work for some farmer for a day. I drove out there and the farmer said he was in the old silo scooping corn, while they were trying to empty it. I climbed up and hollered to my brother to come out and climb down with me. He ask what's wrong? I gave him a short explanation of why he shouldn't be in there, and turned around and chewed that farmer out one side and down the other. That guy didnt say a word, if he didn't know the danger of someone in those silos, he did when I was done talking. We got in our cars and drove off.

As a layperson (28 years teaching British Literature and American literature), this is a world I had NO idea existed. I have always held farmers in great regard. My mother and father instilled a strong work ethic (Mom owned a paint and interior store, Color Craft, and my dad was a civil/petroleum engineer in Houston). As a young student, I painted interior and exterior during breaks to earn money. One summer in a crew of 6 women, we pressured washed (other processes too) the outside of River Oaks Baptist Church). For just one month alone, I was in a bucket lift repairing and painting stucco. I guess I should land the plane...I am NOT averse to hard work, but ANYONE who does ANY silo work has my DEEPEST RESPECT. Knowing the risks and still doing that work is IMPRESSIVE!!!!

Sorry you lost your son mom. I can’t even imagine the grief you had to of felt and still feel today, everyday. My heart goes out to you & your family. R.I.P. Tommy.

I'm a farmer and this is atrocious. High moisture/fermenting corn in a silo and you send your workers in when the pile is high enough to bury him 20 FEET? It had to be 25 feet higher than him to do so! I'll enter a bin (an actual bin, not a silo) when the grain is flowing to empty it either enough to install a sweep (horizontal auger that directs grain to the center unload) or to push it to the center unload, then shovel, then sweep with a broom to fully clean the bin. Somewhat dangerous, as if you slip your leg could get trapped in the unload auger if it doesn't have a guard, you always need to be careful. But in regards to the bridged corn example, if the grain isn't being augered out and the grain is that high, that should indicate to you that you have a severe bridging issue and to proceed cautiously. Old mechanically driven grinder mixers can be dangerous with roller chains and exposed bevel gears, I think about slipping on mud while walking around it and my hand getting drawn in by the gears or if my clothes would catch them, some of the gears on my grinder have no protection. The chains are shielded, though. Pushing in "leaves" of square bales into the hammermill to get a bit of ground hay in the mix....I don't think your arm would ever reach them unless you were careless but I always thought about that when I used to add hay. And always be mindful when unplugging or oiling the chains on a corn head on a combine if you leave it running (you absolutely shouldn't do these operations with it running but I do, seriously just don't do it!). Be safe and have fun farming!

how about instead of banning kids form operating machinery you make farmers have the proper equipment. this was caused because the bins equipment wasn't right.

I know nothing of farm life because I have been born and raised in the city, this video's topic is completely new to me. It saddens me that things like this still occur in a time where we have such advanced technology that I am sure has spread to the agriculture industry. My prayers go out to Tommy's family and friends in their time of grief.

Kids need to be taught to say no. There is no harm in refusing to do a job if you suspect it to be life threatening. I've worked on different farms since I was 13 and I've turned down a few jobs myself.

I've been driving tractor sence I was 6 years old and still do

A farmer with a grain silo claims he didn't know about the risk of sinking into the grain and being suffocated? I find that very hard to believe. I'm not a farmer and have never worked on a farm, and even I knew about that.

R.I.P. Tommy :(

the owner of the farm was cheap and i keep Tommy's family in my prayers after watching this. This farm owner should have been taken to court by the family. the owner of the farm should also use bins to hold corn not silos and he should have fixed the augers

That poor family😔 imagine having to drive by silos everyday and being constantly reminded of your sons death. Rip🖤

I live in Standish, i Knew tommy R.I.P. Tommy osier

Oh he was a doll this hurts my heart for his family, his momma I couldn't help it she made me cry... RIP such a loss

I have to disagree. This is not a new hazard, it has been identified for DECADES and it's inexcusable that it is still a problem. I feel for Tommy's family and also feel for the rescuers considering a good number of them probably knew Tommy personally.

as a mom I feel sorry for the lady so sad .that's any mother's night mare losing your child may he rest in peace poor kid..

It is sad and inexcusable. I grew up in farm country and know a lot about his type of equipment. The silo is equipped with an auger which is used to convey the corn out of the silo. The auger wasn't working and instead of fixing it, Tommy's boss made these boys go in the silo to get the grain out. It was entirely avoidable.

This is just so tragic it breaks my heart . And It could have been prevented!!

dear God this has been killing people since the beginning of time. BUT we should dang well be past this specific danger. There's NO way any human should ever get under TONS of feed. Specifically we do handle INCREDIBLE amounts of grain now that it's in everything. Teenage boys are not disposable. They dont need to be "walking the corn" the hard thing is sorting laws so that teens are not banned from farm work, but that this specific issue of grain storage, gets sorted out ASAP.

If I were his family I would have sued them so badly I would have owned that farm and everything on it !!!!!! Pluss any other valued assets they may have owned, vehicles and all ,cash ,back accounts all of it !!!!!! That farm should have been shut down and sold and all moneys going to his parents !!!!! That's was a criminal neglect!!!!!!!

Why didn't Tommy leave the hatch open so that when the 20 tons of corn started to come down he could jump out of the silo?

Im sorry for all those families that have lost someone close and dear to them

Never, ever, ever, EVER enter a silo with grain in it. EVER! This poor kid just didn't know. And the owner should have made sure he KNEW. No excuse, I was raised on farms, my old made sure we all knew better when it came to farm hazards and silos are incredibly hazardous. Sadly, silo deaths are still happening every year and there's no good reason for it.

how very so sorry for this young man life.so really stranger.

my uncle was building a 55-foot silo and the roof gave way

the step brother of one my cousins accidently slipped and fell in to a corn silo and the corn came down and suffocated him.

...wow, I did not know of this kind of danger, ...love to Tommys family.

Scary. The corn dislodged his jaw... yikes... :(

Some fairly high-profile farming YT channels still do this risky practice and show it in their videos. The attitude to safety can be very sketchy. Many will argue strongly about their rights to risk life in so many words. When it's an employee's life though...

I agree that in this situation that may be warranted. I was speaking more generally about the fed having to step in when states aren't protecting their citizens.

or maybe they need to enforce currently existing regulations, such as negligent homicide charges.

"These kinds of regulations can be introduced in state legislatures" Yes, they can but they're not. If the states would have taken measures to keep workers safe then the Department of Labor wouldn't have had to take on the task. Don't blame the federal government for being forced to do the States' work for them.

Farming is dangerous. We start from the time our kids are babies teaching how to be safe around all equipment.

The corn or any grain for that matter moves too fast. There's no time to jump out of the way.

they should sell rescue tubes with silos as standard

I’m 12 and have been driving a tractor since I was 5, And will for the rest of my life. Farming is simply a way of life.

My uncle was chopping bales with a straw thrower to feed the herd but the twine was jammed in the choppers he was young and left the tractor running as well as the pot he pulled the twine and the straw choppers strarted going luckily there was a emergency switch but his whole arm was shredded but luckily he survived but now has to farm with a mechanical arms

Yes silos are very dangerous

I love the way that the NY times puts a liberal spin on a tragic death. Ethanol or feed corn is not at fault for this,,, and neither is children working on family farms. RIP Tommy and shame on you liberal hatchet men and women for the liberal distortion!

I'm surpsrised harnesses haven't been introduced

H2S is really deadly on a farm when doing Silage. If the silage is left in there too long it starts to ferment!!

I can’t believe they fined the family after their kid died

so sad sorry for your loss

My dads friend peter in high school was chopping some grass at night and was trying to fix the deck and clutch got engaged some how and he got sucked into it and got all cut up and bled out and died, his dad saw the tractor running in the middle of the field for 1 hr ing the same spot and walked out there and saw him bleeding all over but it was too late😬☹️😐😭

My heart goes out to the Osier family.

I see this every year when I go to the state fair

Farmer was more worried about the price of pulltabs and beer, not silo safety, truth, boom 💥

😭 I feel sad for his family and I've drove tractors and loaders and combined since I was 6 R.I.P Tommy

Crazy...you would think someone would come up with a better way to do that job or technology that could do it.

Reminds of Victorian times when they sent boys up chimneys as sweeps.

He should be tried for negligent homicide and if what you're saying is confirmed I think they would have a good case for this.

$3500 fine really how bout 2 years in prison for MR. schawb for not knowing all of the risks and not fixing the auger when it was broken

i have worked in silos a lot.u do not think about something happening until it happens

and they say losing your job to a machine is a bad thing

If the States would recognize the issues and act upon them then their constituents wouldn't feel compelled to go over their heads, so to speak. Every state has its own agency charged with regulating work environments and this isn't a new problem. People have been dying in grain storage accidents as long as grain has been stored and handled this way. I'm not advocating the fed gov. sticking its nose where it doesn't need to.

Negligent homicide would still apply, but would be more difficult to prosecute seeing as you would need to prove he did not understand the risks of doing what he was doing, or that the employer intentionally prevented him from knowing those risks. One of the sad things about living in a free society is that adults have to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions, this is the lesser of two evils.

So sad. Rest in Peace.

That's rude and uncalled for.

why did the corn fall on him?

sad

Such a terribly sad story there must be some other safety mechanisms for workers or youngsters

exactly - seemed like a simple fix to make. Fix the augers and the problem is solved. Going into a silo is a terrible idea.

Indiana state fair I think I was there. For my 4-h project when they were giving that demo

Poor Guy

I have all ways been told if it is dangers you do it!!!!!!!!!!!

Did this happen in the Honeycutt farm?

What farm was this? Where?

Resting in peace

Well, on the bright side he probably didn't feel anything because of trauma-induced shock.

It's sad that this young man died. Perhaps if the politicians wouldn't have foolishly added other elements such as driving tractors and other routine farm work, something could have been done in Washington to aid in the prevention of future deaths.

My dad used to do the same thing and he once had to throw his shovel into the auger to stop it.

I love how people from the cities who never worked a day on a farm know what is best. I love how the NYT picks a situation that should have never occurred do to misfeasance. I'm sure these operate were sued as they should have been. But what right do you all from NY have to tell us what is safe. I guess it's normal for "liberals" to need more regulation to feel more free. I know of lots of tragedies. 99% percent of them could have been easily avoided but so goes with car accidents, and other activities.

Don't go in bins I've had close calls to close way to dangerous

There has to be a better way to do whatever it is they do when they enter the silo. We can put people in space but can't find a better wayto clean silos or something so people.won't die !

Careful 'a tha' corn now, yaw hear?!

Why make driveing a tractor and farm chores illegal for kids?

Order a minor to do a known dangerous action, face negligent homicide charges...you would be amazed at how few of these would occur. These kinds of regulations can be introduced in state legislatures, there is no reason why every little god damn thing needs to be handled by the department of labor (completely not even authorized by the constitution I would note)

he looks like its time to stop guy with the sunglasses

NOW it gets fixed?!

R.I.P. bro :(

That's why we have bunkers.

The children of the corn...

God this is sad it actually did happen to my friend during harvest

I am more upset about the veil.

Is it just gray naugers, or are white and black naugers affected too?

Ah, but why do politicians who are much easier to follow and influence as a individual citizen, NOT protecting their citizens. Its actually pretty simple, people don't even bother with their state and local politicians, they have a problem and their first thought is going to their federal representative. How are states supposed to govern when their citizens don't consult them and simply go over their head to institute policies nation wide.

As usual in USA lobbies, although they exist in all countries, are easily the stronger and safety regulations in this country can be called Middle Ages (or Chinese for that matter) as compared to Europe. Dying at an early age is a sad thing. Dying at work at any age should not happen. Solutions exist. They MUST be implemented.

So how did the corn get on top of him I don't get it

RIP fellas

Fixed now ,

he died :( thats so sad

What a primitive tractor at 30 sec.

That happend here

You people don’t know the farm way of life I work on a farm and I am still kicking and I have been driving tractors 8

How long did Dave and don farm for ? 3 years? Didn't know of dangers of waking on dry corn? Bull........hummm SOULD we walk on quick sand? And on,y a 3,500. Fine geez theses two men SOULD not be farming!

Are those veal calves at 6:28?

Hey, if these farmers want to play Russian Roulette with their children’s lives, that’s up to them. Unfortunately! And Mr. Swabb should have been charged at the very least with negligent manslaughter.

R.i.p Tommy osier

Silo Green.

Sounds to me like not only was Tommy put in a dangerous situation, but he also may have had a learning disability. That is a bad combination for sure. His parents should have spoken to the farm owner/operator upon his first mention of going into the silo, job security be damned. It's doubtful the owner was unaware of Tommy's cognitive deficits (even farm laborers need to be able to listen to and process directions), but 18 or not, his mother should have made it clear he wasn't normal.