Grain Bin Safety Week is Sunday, February 18, through Saturday, February 24, 2018. Each year, farmers risk their lives when they enter large grain bins, to remove clumped or rotting grain, while machinery is still running. Much like quicksand, flowing grain can bury a worker within seconds.
Because these accidents have become all too common, Nationwide and The Cornerstone Agency are launching the fifth annual Nominate Your Fire Department Contest, in recognition of Grain Bin Safety Week. The goal is to prevent injuries from happening, by widely sharing safe bin-entry procedures, such as maintaining quality grain, testing bin atmosphere for toxic gases, and wearing proper safety equipment.
“The Cornerstone Agency is proud to support this great cause to help save lives,” said Tyler Sandrock, Office Manager. “We hope to promote this contest by getting the word out to family, friends, and businesses and to encourage them to nominate their local fire department. Fire Department contest winners will receive a grain rescue tube and rescue training.”
Since 2014, Nationwide has awarded grain bin rescue tubes and training to 48 Fire Departments in 18 states. The Westphalia Fire Department in Kansas and the Glenville Fire Department in Minnesota have both put their tubes and training to action–saving the lives of farmers trapped in grain bins.
Nominations for the Nominate Your Fire Department Contest are open until Monday, April 30.
Both are supported by Nationwide and the following partners:
• KC Supply
• CHS
• Nationwide Land As Your Legacy
• Specialty Risk Insurance
• KFSA Insurance Agency
• David Larson Financial and Insurance Services, Inc.
• The Cornerstone Agency Inc.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
• Ravenna Feed & Grain
• Sietsema Farms Feeds
• Agri-Business Insurance Services
• The Scoular Company
• West Side Salvage
• NOHR Wortmann Engineering
• The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety
• First Gabrielson Insurance Agency
“Grain Bin Safety Week could not happen without the generous support of our sponsors, whose contributions to the program help to ensure the safety of farmers across the Country,” said Brad Liggett, President of Nationwide Agribusiness, the number one farm insurer.
For more information about the program, purpose, or nomination process, visit www.grainbinsafetyweek.com.