Winnipeg - June 20, 2019 – Farming is the fourth most hazardous job in Canada.
One of the greatest dangers producers face is injury or death caused by grain entrapments and engulfments.
Building greater awareness about storage hazards and proper grain handling is a key initiative of the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA). For 2019, the organization is expanding the firefighter training and farm show components of its innovative BeGrainSafe program.
The campaign was developed following seven grain entrapment fatalities in the Prairies in 2015.
“We were noticing more incidents happening with the volume of grain flows increasing due to advances in technology and production,” said Liz Ellis Clark, CASA Development Specialist.
CASA launched a fundraising campaign that has received continuing support from numerous donors and other partners.
In 2017, a mobile trailer and demonstration unit was developed that traveled to several farm shows in Alberta and Saskatchewan to raise awareness about the dangers of flowing grain and grain entrapment, using pop-up banners, interactive physical displays and digital games.
The mobile unit also features a flowing grain demonstration to simulate the rescue of a mannequin or actual person in a controlled manner using a GSI Res-Q-Tube.
That device is a 60-inch tall, 27-pound shield constructed to fit around the victim with three additional 30-inch diameter shields to stop the flow of the grain toward the person.
It is constructed of lightweight aluminum to be easy for rescuers to transport and maneuver.
In 2018, CASA launched a firefighter training program. A typical 2-day program includes one day of in-class theory and a second day of practical training which includes simulated rescues of actual firefighter “victims.”
“It’s intended to prepare firefighters to respond to a grain entrapment incident on farm or at a grain handling facility,” Clark explained.
“All firefighters who complete the training receive a certificate and many are designated as master trainers to provide training for other firefighters.”
In addition to the training, fire departments are also encouraged to host a community awareness event for farmers and other ag industry participants.
Since June of 2018, the BeGrainSafe program has reached approximately 307,000 members of the public at various awareness demonstrations and has trained over 400 firefighters from 15 departments from Albert to Ontario.
Nearly a dozen Res-Q-Tubes and augers were donated by sponsors to fire departments during the year.
“We’re very appreciative for the collaboration and assistance we received from towns, fire departments and provincial agricultural health and safety specialists in spreading grain safety awareness to rural communities,” Clark said.
2019 Initiatives
This year, CASA is extending the geographic reach of firefighter training to include Manitoba and Quebec.
There are also plans to return to eastern Ontario this year and back to the Prairies in 2020.
In addition, the mobile trailer will visit at least two farm shows during 2019 in Quebec and Ontario, including Expo Champs Aug. 27-29 in Saint-Liboire, Quebec.
CASA also is continuing its training this year to help farmers set up an emergency response plan on their operations to include farm safety systems, grain handling hazard assessment and hazard management.
The one-day course is geared to those who have large onsite grain storage and can be offered with or without the mobile trailer.
Clark said CASA is grateful for the continuing support the BeGrainSafe program receives which enables the organization to continue and expand its awareness and training efforts.
“Knowing the hazards and controlling them represent the first line of defense in preventing life-threatening incidents,” she said.
For more information about CASA’s BeGrainSafe program, including current sponsors, sponsorship opportunities and available training materials, visit www.casa-acsa.ca/begrainsafe or call 1-877-452-2272.