Grainnet

NGFA/GEAPS Seminar on Safety, Health, Environmental, and Facility Security Issues ... July 29-30 ... St. Louis, MO

Washington, DC and Minneapolis, MN—Key safety, health, environmental and facility security issues important to managers and operators of grain elevators, feed mills and grain processing plants will headline the program when the National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) and Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) conduct their next joint seminar July 29-30 in St. Louis, MO.

The NGFA-GEAPS Joint Safety, Health, Environmental Quality and Facility Security Seminar will be conducted at the Marriott St. Louis Airport Hotel.

It is the fifth in an ongoing annual summer seminar series launched by the two organizations in 2004.

The program was developed by the joint NGFA/GEAPS Safety, Health and Environmental Quality Committee, chaired by Kevin Danner, environmental, health and safety director for West Central Cooperative, Ralston, Iowa.

“This seminar will provide a unique, affordable educational experience developed explicitly for professionals in the grain-handling, feed and grain-processing industry,” Danner said.

“The information provided will be timely, relevant to real-world operations and will be presented in a format that attendees will find very interactive.”

NGFA President Kendell Keith said the seminar is an unprecedented opportunity for attendees to gain access to the top safety, health, environmental quality and facility-security expertise in the industry.

“Our industry has experienced a major reduction in fire and explosion incidents over the past 30 years, largely attributable to facility managers’ commitment to provide ongoing education and training for employees on these hazards,” Keith said.

“Yet, the uptick in fatalities resulting from bin-entry incidents in 2007 points out the constant need for refresher training on proper safety procedures.”

The seminar will feature seven distinct sessions focusing on:

• Emerging and evolving safety and health issues, including regional special emphasis inspection programs being undertaken by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), as well the agency’s review of its rolling stock fall protection guidance.

This session will feature a presentation by Bill McDonald, area director for OSHA’s Region VII Office in St. Louis, MO.

• Recognizing and preventing fire and explosion hazards, as well as safety procedures for confined space entry and lockout/tagout of equipment – two of the industry’s most important safety priorities.

Speakers will include Troy Anderson, Twin Rivers FSG operations leader, Cargill AgHorizons, Overland Park, Kan., Derek Farmer, regional safety coordinator, Cargill AgHorizons, Topeka, Kan.; and Gregory Rowe, director of grain and PACMA operations for Perdue AgriBusiness, Salisbury, MD.

• Techniques for effective employee training, featuring Kevin Clutter, project manager, Conestoga-Rovers and Associates, Fresno, CA.

• An overview of environmental regulations affecting grain elevators, feed mills and grain processing facilities, as well as the movement to adopt environmental sustainability standards within the food and agriculture sector.

Faculty members will include Kelly Jorgenson, director of environmental compliance, Ag Processing Inc., Omaha, Neb.; Michael (Mick) Durham, Grain Processing Corp., Muscatine, Iowa; and Jerri Thibaut, environmental specialist, Bunge North America Inc., St. Louis, Mo.

• Electrical safety, including a review of the latest applicable National Electric Code standards for hazardous locations.

Featured speaker will be Mark Wirfs, president, R&W Engineering Inc., Beaverton, Ore.

• Transportation safety for commercial vehicle fleet operations, rolling-stock fall protection and more.

The speaker will be Dwight Siewert, Driver Compliance Services Group, J.J. Keller and Associates Inc., Neenah, WI.

• Facility security, including a review of the Food and Drug Administration’s implementation of its Food Protection Plan.

Faculty members include Wayne Bauer, director of safety and security, Star of the West Milling Co., Frankenmuth, MI, and Sam Germer, vice president, operations, RCI Inc., Ogden, IA.

The day-and-a-half seminar also will feature a tabletop trade show of related equipment and services available from sponsors, as well as an opportunity for attendees to interact with some of the top industry experts on safety, health, environmental quality and facility security.

Seminar Registration:

The seminar registration fee is $295 per person for NGFA and GEAPS members, if registration is received on or before June 30, and $355 if received from July 1 through July 25.

For nonmembers of either organization, the fee is $480 if received before June 30 and $540 if received between June 30 and July 25.

The fee is $395 for NGFA and GEAPS members, and $580 for non-members, for registrations received after July 25.

The registration fee includes a comprehensive proceedings book; lunch, reception and dinner on July 29; breakfast on July 30; and refreshment breaks on both days.

Hotel Reservations: Hotel reservations at the Marriott St. Louis Airport Hotel may be made by calling 314-423-9700.

The deadline for making reservations is July 7. Identify with “GEAPS/NGFA” to qualify for the special rate of $109 per night, single or double occupancy.

Additional information about the seminar program, speakers, sponsorship and registration is available on the NGFA and GEAPS websites.

For more information, call 202-289-0873.