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SPOTLIGHT: Grain Bin Rescue Equipment

SPOTLIGHT: Grain Bin Rescue Equipment

AUGUST 2019

Travel around the Upper Midwest and you’ll see that the landscape is dotted with grain bins in all shapes and sizes. These structures house soybeans, corn and other grains grown in the region and are a central part to crop farming.

Grain bins can be a dangerous presence on farms with respect to deadly asphyxiation and entrapment.

The National Education Center of Agricultural Safety (NECAS), and Nationwide/Corteva Agrisocience have teamed up to promote programs which provide rescue training and rescue tubes for local fire departments who are typically the first to respond to these life threatening situations.

Read on to learn more about the dangers of grain bins and how NECAS and Nationwide/Corteva Agriscience are making a difference in farmer’s lives.


According to Purdue University, an average of 30.7 people per year die in grain bin asphyxiation and entrapment accidents nationally, based on 10-year averages. In 2017, 52% of entrapments were fatal.


Having the proper rescue tools and training is essential for first respondents rushing to save someone trapped in grain. The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS), located in Peosta, IA, is proud to partner with Nationwide and Corteva Agriscience to deliver a total of 55 grain rescue tubes and hands-on grain rescue training in 23 states this summer and fall. NECAS is a leader in agricultural safety and rescue education; its grain rescue training has resulted in 19 lives saved nationally.

 

“Nationwide Insurance is proud to partner with NECAS on our mission to raise awareness about grain bin dangers, provide education and share best safety practices. To date, through our Nominate Your Fire Department Contest, we have received nearly 3,000 nominations and have awarded grain rescue tubes and hands-on training to 111 fire departments across 26 states since starting the program in 2014. Most notably, four of these awarded rescue tubes have saved lives.”

Paul Stevenson, Senior Risk Management Consultant

In 2014 Nationwide created the Nominate Your Fire Department Contest, in conjunction with Grain Bin Safety Week, an advocacy program to educate those entering grain bins to implement safe entry procedures and address the lack of specialized resources available to rural fire departments responding to bin entrapments.

This year’s campaign awards grain rescue tubes and training to 34 fire departments across 17 states.

 

2019 Winners of the Nationwide Nominate Your Fire Department Contest from the Midwest include:

  • Rowley Fire Department
    Rowley, IA
  • Welcome Fire Department
    Welcome, MN
  • Eolia Community Fire Protection
    Eolia, MO
  • Westran Fire and Rescue
    Huntsville, MO
  • Central Platte Fire Protection
    Platte City, MO
  • Carthage Fire Department
    Carthage, SD
  • Amery Fire Department
    Amery, WI
  • Clear Lake Fire Department
    Clear Lake, WI
  • Winchester Fire Department
    Larsen, WI

Recipients of grain rescue equipment include fire departments located in:

  • Lewistown, IL
  • Courtland, KS
  • Wetmore, KS
  • Mountain Lake, MN
  • Stromsburg, NE
  • Pollock, SD
  • Wilmot, SD
  • Lebanon, WI
  • North Freedom, WI

Corteva Agriscience, Agriculture Division of DowDuPont, is equipping communities with lifesaving equipment by donating 21 grain rescue tubes and augers, along with hands-on grain rescue training to fire departments in 14 states.

 

 


Farm Safety Check: Grain Handling Safety

Have you taken the proper steps to ensure the safety of grain bins/silo entry on your farm?  The UMASH Farm Safety Check on grain handling safety lists a few common hazards you can look for and fix to keep your workers and family safe.


The National Education Center of Agricultural Safety (NECAS) offers a variety of agricultural safety and rescue trainings. LEARN MORE