Grainnet

Grainnet Podcast With Professor Bill Field, Ag Safety Specialist at Purdue University, On The Grain Bin Engulfment Database

by Grainnet Editor Greg Sullivan

On August 25, I spoke with Professor Bill Field, Ag Safety Specialist with the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering at Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN.

He spoke on the following topics:

• Background on Purdue's Grain Bin Engulfment Database

• Trend: grain bin deaths are rising, not falling over time

• Majority of grain bin deaths in the past were on-farm.

Gradually that has shifted so that the large majority of grain bin deaths are now at commercial grain facilities

• Usefulness of this data for commercial grain industry

• Practical measures elevator managers can take to minimize chances of injuries or fatalities

Professor Bill Field presently directs Purdue’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program at Purdue University which incorporates the components of injury prevention, emergency preparedness, and rehabilitation of agricultural workers into a comprehensive effort designed to enhance the quality of life in rural communities.

The primary focus of his program has been on building collaborative relationships to address agricultural-related safety and health issues at the local, state, and national level.

For more information, call 765-494-1191.