Ag Organizations Partner to Save Lives

Over the past 50 years, more than 900 cases of grain engulfment have been reported in the U.S. with a fatality rate of 62 percent. In 2010, at least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain engulfments - the highest number on record.  The most tragic of all: grain engulfments are highly preventable.

Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance company is partnering with Farm Safety for Just Kids, Iowa FFA Foundation and others to increase awareness of the dangers of flowing grain and bring visibility to safety procedures that can save lives through an annual Grain Bin Safety Week beginning February 23.

Timed to bring safety awareness to the dangers of grain bins prior to planting season in much of the country, the week-long event will highlight a different component each of the seven days including grain management, bin hazard identification, bin and equipment design, bin entry, working safely in a bin, extraction/rescue and confined spaces beyond the bin.

Highlights of the week include:

• #AgChat on Twitter 7 - 9 p.m. CT, Tuesday February 25. (Be sure to include the hashtag #GBSW14 in your tweets.)
• On Wednesday, February 26, Nationwide Agribusiness will host a free, live webinar on grain safety that is open to everyone. Farmers and commercial grain handlers will gain valuable insight into the risks and hazards of grain bins, safe-work procedures, OSHA standards and more. Reserve your spot now at http://nwagcompanyevents.fugent.com/home/events.asp.
• Win safety equipment and training for your local fire department. The contest runs from January 1 to April 30. nationwide Agribusiness and NECAS have partnered to provide grain entrapment rescue training and a bin rescue tube (valued at $2,600) to one nominated fire department or emergency rescue squad. Official rules are available at GrainBinSafetyWeek.com.