The grain-handling industry is a high-hazard one. Workers can be exposed to serious and sometimes life-threatening hazards, including fires and explosions from grain dust accumulation, suffocation from engulfment and entrapment in grain bins, falls from heights, and crushing injuries and amputations from grain-handling equipment.
Stand Up 4 Grain Safety focuses on the importance of addressing these hazards.
Stand Up 4 Grain Safety week, which takes place March 29-April 2, 2021, is an annual outreach effort hosted by the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). As part of their mission, the NGFA-OSHA alliance raises awareness about grain storage and handling hazards, and it provides education and training resources on best safety practices. This partnership facilitates cooperation and communication between the regulatory agency and the grain industry.
This year’s Stand Up 4 Grain Safety combines virtual and in-person activities held at the University of Nebraska Ag Extension Center near Lincoln, NE. Demonstrations, success stories, idea sessions and stand-up resources give participants an opportunity to further their own commitment to safety. This year’s free event highlights near-miss reporting, bin safety, emergency action plans and the impact of grain quality on safety.
During Stand Up 4 Grain Safety, companies are encouraged to hold a stand-up on a prevention measure that addresses grain-handling hazards. Stand-ups are a time for companies to talk about
hazards, prevention and protection, as well as safety policies and goals. Workers can also use this time to share hazards they see on the job.
NGFA has numerous tools to use for these stand-ups, including videos, safety tip sheets, interactive courses, guidance documents and best practice sheets. Those materials can be found here.
In past years, Stand Up 4 Grain Safety participants included those in grain handling, grain processing, feed manufacturing and agronomy facilities, among others. This year’s event continues to grow as organizations combine their talents, resources and knowledge to create more training and educational offerings, expand partnerships with other industry organizations and reach across the entire grain industry spectrum.
How to Get Involved
Companies who want to prevent workplace hazards and provide a safe work environment should participate in a stand-up. They are encouraged to be creative and make events informal and collaborative. To register or for more information, click here. For frequently asked questions about Stand Up 4 Grain Safety, click here.
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