Safety Counts

By Kerry Watson, Director of Communications

One thousand, eight hundred forty-four. Two thousand, one hundred two. Customers and employees approaching the facilities in Groveland and Moundridge can’t help but notice these numbers. They are proudly displayed at each location and are placed so anyone entering the facility will notice the number of days the location has worked without a lost-time accident.

"We stress safety in everything we do," states Nathan Eck, senior location manager at Groveland. "Whether it’s climbing in and out of a spray rig, entering a grain bin, or ensuring the sidewalks are free from snow and ice, the safety of our employees and our customers is our number one priority."

Diligent about safety

Providing a safe environment for employees and customers is a top priority at MKC. Increasing our employee’s awareness of potential hazards is just a small part of MKC’s safety preparedness and training programs. 

Recently, the cardtrol fuel site at Moundridge experienced a minimal product spill due to an overflow.  This occurred when the vehicle’s overflow protection failed to release the latch on the fuel nozzle.  MKC employees, Cody Dent, Davin Girard and Rory Howard are trained as Class C Operators and observed the mishap during their morning process of measuring fuel tanks.  

Kansas Department of Health and Environment requires a report of spills exceeding 10 gallons.  Although this particular event was estimated to be approximately one gallon, the alert employees did not take it lightly and immediately proceeded with proper procedures to clean the spill.  The customer also took action and had the vehicle’s overflow protection inspected and repaired. It is the awareness of these employees and customer that helped prevent any further problems. 

Our employees’ knowledge of equipment and their surroundings helps provide a safe environment.  It is this diligence that helps ensure every customer and employee who steps foot on MKC property returns safely home to their family.

First responder training contributes to safety

MKC employee, Murl Garver, shows first responders the
electrical panel in one of the grain elevators.

Thorough training about what to expect is a firefighter or first responder’s best friend when it comes to grain elevator fires, explosions or other accidents. Along with these types of trainings, a familiarity of the facility in which such events might occur is the responder’s next best friend.

Members of the Abilene and Grant Township fire departments recently spent an evening touring the facilities at MKC’s location in Abilene. The tour was organized by Matt McCune, the location manager at Talmage and a member of the Grant Township Fire Department. Matt said he volunteers, “because I feel it is important to give back.”

When seconds matter

MKC employees practice CPR procedures.

When an adult, child or infant suddenly stops breathing, his or her survival may depend on immediately getting CPR from someone nearby.  According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the use of CPR dates all the way back to 1740, yet even today, most people don’t know how to perform it. 

Each year, MKC offers a first aid and CPR class at no cost to its employees.   This year’s class was taught to more than 50 employees by Robert Hickman, Safety Director for MKC and an AHA certified CPR trainer.  First aid and CPR training are just two of many safety courses offered by MKC each year. 

According to the American Heart Association, effective bystander CPR provided immediately after sudden cardiac arrest can double or triple a victim’s chance of survival. 

“We know the time it takes for emergency responders to arrive can be critical,” states  Hickman.  “Training our employees to administer CPR and basic first aid may help save a co-worker, customer or even a loved one.”