In five seconds a worker can become engulfed in flowing grain, unable to get out; within 60 seconds, the worker can be completely submerged.
On-Site Safety Training
To discuss a possible onsite training session on engulfment prevention and/or respiratory protection, contact AgriSafe’s Linda Emanuel, network community health nurse, lemanuel@agrisafe.org or Knesha Rose-Davidson, health communications coordinator, krose@agrisafe.org , 866-312-3002.
Preventing tragic deaths from grain suffocation is the purpose of Stand Up for Engulfment Prevention Week, April 9-13.
Three safety webinars on the topic are scheduled for 12-1 p.m. CDT on April 10, 11 and 13. Sponsors are AgriSafe, the Grain Handling Safety Coalition and the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety.
While free, registration is required to access the webinars, which will be archived through 2018. Archived (on demand) webinars may be accessed by logging into agrisafe.org and clicking under the Quick Links heading to the Grain Safety tab. Live webinar registration is found under the Upcoming Events heading or via the links below.
Tuesday, April 10: “Confined Space – Grain Bin Entry.”
For workers and managers of grain elevators, farm operations, grain hauling, and agricultural businesses. The major focus is on safety in confined work spaces, it covers entry, respiratory protection, and prevention of grain dust explosions. Topics include:
- hazards that lead to dust explosions and how to prevent them,
- hazards of working in confined grain spaces,
- process of lock-out procedures, and
- respiratory protection.
To register, go to https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/5456220189776783874.
Wednesday, April 11: “Understanding Agricultural Respiratory Hazards with Emphasis on Respirator Selection as a Prevention Strategy.”
Information about common agricultural respiratory exposures and diseases, particularly for grain handling. It's directed to agricultural producers and employers of agricultural workers, and addresses how to:
- recognize grain handling respiratory hazards,
- understand and implement “Lungs for Life” resources for appropriate respirator options, especially in grain handling, and
- implement respiratory disease prevention options
To register, go to https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/3467496125222953986
Friday, April 13: “Reducing Grain Bin Entry Risks.”
This session guides participants through the bin entry process. Presenters are Jeff Decker and Robert Aherin, members of the Grain Handling Safety Coalition (GHSC). Decker provides safety training and is experienced in all aspects of hazard identification analysis and accident investigations. Aherin, an extension specialist at the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, is a GHSC cofounder and agricultural safety and health expert. This webinar will cover:
- hazard assessment, methods to reduce hazards or the need for entry and safe entry procedures and
- lifeline use, how and when lifelines are effective in protecting entrants, and proper set-up and use of lifelines.
To register, go to https://attendee.gototraining.com/r/3829295923900901122.
The mission of AgriSafe is to support a growing network of trained agricultural health and safety professionals that assure access to preventative services for farm families and the agricultural community. For more, see agrisafe.org.
