ARLINGTON, Va., April 26, 2021 -- The National Grain and Feed Association and a coalition of agricultural shippers including the North American Millers Association, National Oilseed Processors Association, Pet Food Institute, and American Bakers Association today announced a partnership with the Association of American Railroads (AAR) and Railinc to give shippers greater visibility into the recent commodities carried by covered hopper cars. This new resource will provide shippers with essential information to maintain the highest food safety standards and help prevent potential cross-contact ... Read More
Safety, Health & Environment
NGFA finalizes new Climate Change and Sustainability Task Force
To assist NGFA in addressing the significant issues of climate change and sustainability, NGFA Chairman JoAnn Brouillette has appointed the following individuals to serve on the newly created Climate Change and Sustainability Task Force: Fernando Adler, head of Gradable Commercial Services, an FBN Company Meg Belcher, senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, Scoular Jay Burns, sustainability ambassador, COFCO INTL Ben Fargher, managing director of sustainability, Cargill North America Supply Chain Mark Hobrock, senior profit center manager, The ... Read More
Purdue University releases grain entrapment statistics for 2020
By Jess McCluer, Vice President of Safety and Regulatory Affairs Purdue University’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program last month released its “2020 Summary of U.S. Agricultural and Confined-Space Related Injuries and Fatalities” report, which documents 35 grain entrapment cases that occurred in 2020. The 35 cases represent an almost 8 percent decline in grain entrapments from 2019, when 38 entrapments were recorded. The total number of fatal and non-fatal entrapments is the second highest in the past six years. In 2020, the state with the most documented grain entrapments — fatal ... Read More
‘Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week’ offers daily virtual events to raise awareness about grain handling and storage hazards
ARLINGTON, Va. March 29, 2021 — The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS) and the Grain Handling Safety Council (GHSC) today launched its fifth annual, weeklong safety outreach effort – “Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week” – to help raise awareness about grain handling and storage hazards and provide safety education and training. Throughout the Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week, which is March 29-April 2, 2021, companies may participate by providing a focused activity and/or toolbox talk ... Read More
Share the new ‘Grain Bin Safety Saves Lives’ flyer
The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) has created an easy-to-share flyer on the importance of adhering to grain bin safety procedures to prevent potential grain engulfments and entanglements. This flyer, which is preceded by a short cover letter, is being shared with all NGFA member companies. The flyer includes best practices for safe grain bin entry and implores anyone working around grain bins to adhere to basic safety precautions if they find it necessary to enter a bin. NGFA members are encouraged to share this document internally with employees and contractors. Importantly, ... Read More
NGFA releases new interactive safety training module on ‘Lockout/Tagout’
ARLINGTON, Va., February 9, 2021 -- The National Grain and Feed Association (NGFA) has issued a new, interactive and free training module that thoroughly covers a vital safety procedure for all grain, feed and processing facilities – Lockout/Tagout. Lockout/Tagout is a safety procedure used to ensure that machines that can pose a safety hazard are shut off or tagged-out properly so they are not started up again prior to the completion of maintenance or repair work. This procedure requires that hazardous energy sources be “isolated and rendered inoperative” before work is started ... Read More
OSHA issues new COVID-19 worker safety guidance
The U.S. Department of Labor announced Jan. 29 that its Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued stronger worker safety guidance recommending what employers should do to protect employees from exposure to the coronavirus. The guidance fulfills President Joe Biden’s executive order directing OSHA to release “clear guidance” for employers designed to keep workers safe from COVID-19 exposure. The guidance, entitled “Protecting Workers: Guidance on Mitigating and Preventing the Spread of COVID-19 in the Workplace,” details key measures for limiting the spread of COVID-19, ... Read More
NGFA’s McCluer named 2021 ‘Leader in the Field’ by Journal of Agromedicine
The Journal of Agromedicine announced Jan. 8 that it has selected Jess McCluer, NGFA’s vice president of safety and regulatory affairs, as its 2021 “Leader in the Field.” McCluer “instills agricultural safety and health across the industry by leveraging his unique blend of analytical skills, creativity and relationship management,” the Journal said in its announcement. Since March 2019, McCluer also has served as Board Chair of the Agricultural Safety and Health Council of America (ASHCA), a coalition of agricultural business leaders, producer associations, risk managers and others ... Read More
NGFA publishes Safety Tips Sheet on ‘Preventing Dryer Fires’
NGFA this week published a new Safety Tips Sheet this week. “Preventing Dryer Fires,” authored by NGFA Manager of Safety, Education and Training Jim Seibert. It can be accessed here. The NGFA “Safety Tips” series is published periodically as part of the Association’s continued commitment to further enhance safety in the workplace. These documents are designed to provide more information on certain types of hazards and suggested ways to protect employees through safety best practices. More Safety Tip Sheets can be found on NGFA’s Safety page. ... Read More
Coalition outlines labor policy under Trump or Biden
The Coalition for Workplace Safety, led by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, outlined policy priorities expected in a second term of the Trump administration or a new Biden administration. The two-page document can be accessed here. The coalition predicts gridlock on all priority issues given a potential Republican majority in the Senate and Democratic majority in the House. A more detailed document highlighting the status of priority safety, health, environmental and employment issues will be distributed once the results of the elections are finalized. ... Read More
Lacy Holleman
National Grain and Feed Association
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