Mitchell, South Dakota, will play host to the national kick-off of the 2024 Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week on March 25. The event is a joint effort by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Grain Handling Safety Council, the Grain Elevator and Processing Society, and the National Grain and Feed Association.

Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week aims to raise awareness about the hazards present in confined spaces within the agriculture industry, with a particular emphasis on grain engulfment. According to OSHA, the fatal engulfment rate in the U.S. decreased by 17% from 2021 to 2022, thanks in part to the agency’s Cooperative Alliance Program. However, 36% of reported grain engulfments in 2022 were fatal due to a lack of proper safety precautions.

“Despite a reduction in grain bin fatalities, far too many people are still being harmed or losing their lives as they work to produce our nation’s food supply,” said OSHA Regional Administrator Jennifer Rous. “The agricultural industry must never overlook the importance of following all safety procedures to protect workers from the dangers lurking in grain bins, such as engulfments and heat illness, which can quickly lead to tragedy.”

The 2024 Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week will kick off with the South Dakota Grain Bin Engulfment Prevention Summit, which will feature a combination of in-person and online events. Throughout the week, participants will also have access to online learning opportunities in both English and Spanish. Topics will include building a safety culture, musculoskeletal injuries, ladder safety, and heat illness.

In addition to the educational events, the alliance has developed a safety video and will be sharing information through newsletters, emails, and social media using the hashtag #StandUp4GrainSafety.

OSHA’s Grain Handling Safety Standards focus on six primary hazards within the industry: engulfment, falls, auger entanglement, struck-by incidents, combustible dust explosions, and electrocution. The agency offers a variety of safety resources specifically tailored to the grain and feed sector.

Sources:

https://www.osha.gov/

https://www.grainsafety.org/