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Fatal and nonfatal US ag confined space incidents fell in 2025
Purdue University documented 48 total cases in 2025, including 22 fatalities, with grain entrapments driving a disproportionate share of deaths despite fewer incidents.
Purdue University data show the number of fatal and nonfatal agricultural confined space incidents in the United States declined in 2025, with at least 48 cases recorded, down 5.9% from 51 in 2024. The figures come from the “2025 Summary of U.S. Agricultural Confined Space-related Injuries and Fatalities,” issued by the Purdue Agricultural Safety and Health Program on July 23, World Grain reported.
Of the 48 incidents, 22 were fatal and 26 were non-fatal. The report identified 21 grain entrapments, seven falls into or from grain storage structures, 10 asphyxiations tied to oxygen-deficient or toxic environments, eight equipment entanglements in or around confined spaces, and two incidents involving miscellaneous circumstances.
Grain-related entrapments remained the key risk driver, even as they fell, with 21 cases in 2025, a 38% decrease from 2024. Purdue noted that grain entrapments continue to pose disproportionate risk because of historically higher fatality rates, and the report said six of the 21 grain-entrapment incidents were fatal.
Livestock waste facilities also contributed to deaths, with four incidents involving waste storage pits or lagoons resulting in 10 fatalities, including six in one incident. Minnesota led by volume with eight confined space-related cases, followed by Colorado with seven and Indiana with six, while Indiana and Minnesota each reported five grain entrapment cases and Illinois reported three.