NGFA Director, Safety, Education and Training Jim Seibert will lead a “Plan to Prevent Fires & Explosions” webinar on June 23 at 1 p.m. CST. Hosted by the Feed & Grain Live, the webinar will feature Seibert hosting a discussion on how to prevent grain dryer fires and dust explosions by having an emergency plan in place. “Whether a fire emergency allows for an orderly facility shutdown or requires a ‘cut-and-run’ evacuation, maintaining control is possible,” notes the webinar description. “This webinar will help you establish a plan to avoid confusion and mistakes that lead to ... Read More
Safety, Health & Environment
NGFA safety resources available to Safety Made Simple clients
NGFA and Safety Made Simple (SMS) announced on June 1 a new partnership allowing SMS clients access to NGFA’s library of Safety Tips Sheets and online training modules within SMS’s learning management system. “NGFA and Safety Made Simple share similar missions to help workers go home safe every day,” said Jess McCluer, NGFA’s vice president of safety and regulatory affairs. “This partnership will ensure NGFA’s safety training materials are shared as widely as possible by being featured on Safety Made Simple’s professional and robust online training platform. We hope this partnership can ... Read More
NGFA, ag shippers partner with railroads on food safety initiative
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
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
Lacy Holleman
National Grain and Feed Association
TwitterYoutubeFacebookLinkedin