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01.04.19 Newsletter, Safety, Health & Environment

NGFA, grain groups outline success of industry safety efforts

In a Dec. 31 letter to the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), the NGFA and other grain organizations outlined reasons they believe additional regulations do not need to be developed by the board to mitigate combustible dust hazards in the grain handling and processing industry.

“We support OSHA’s (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) goal of protecting employees and recommend that the CSB work cooperatively with industry groups to ensure stakeholder input and feedback is duly considered,” the groups noted, adding that they do support the continued delivery of safety and health education and training to mitigate combustible dust and other workplace hazards.

The American Feed Industry Association, the Corn Refiners Association, the National Oilseed Processors Association, the North American Millers Association and the U.S. Beet Sugar Association joined in signing the NGFA-authored letter. NGFA submitted the letter in response to the board’s Oct. 24 “Call to Action” regarding combustible dust. If you continue reading, you will learn how the NGFA’s extensive efforts to enhance safety include unprecedented research and education efforts launched in the early 1980s that helped lead to a dramatic reduction in the number of fire and explosion incidents in commercial grain-handling facilities in the late 1970s. The industry has demonstrated its commitment, before and after the promulgation of the OSHA’s grain handling standard in 1988.

NGFA’s letter cites combustible dust explosion data collected by Kansas State University

between 1976-2014, which found that explosion incidents declined by 55 percent, injuries declined by 79 percent and fatalities declined by 95 percent, as examined in five-year increments. These declines occurred even as the volume of grain handled increased significantly during the same time frame.

“It is clear the effects of our industry’s self-initiated and self-funded actions, including significant facility, equipment and technology improvements, extensive education and research efforts, and improved commodity handling, storage, and shipping practices, is being reflected in substantially reduced risks of fires, explosions and associated injuries and fatalities,” the Dec. 31 letter states.

In addition to leading regional safety seminars with its state affiliates and publishing guidance documents, the NGFA periodically issues Safety Tip Sheets, including one on combustible dust.

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Lacy Holleman
Manager of Legal Affairs and Arbitration

lholleman@ngfa.org

Lacy provides staff support for one of NGFA’s premier member services – its more than century old system of industry trade rules and arbitration that facilitates the efficient marketing of grains, oilseeds and their derived products. She also works on contracting, legal and other related matters.

An Arkansas native, Lacy received her undergraduate degree with a double major in history and Russian studies from the University of Tulsa (Okla.) and her law degree from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C. Prior to joining NGFA’s staff in November 2020, she managed a local business at the Pentagon and completed mediation training required by the North Carolina Supreme Court for those seeking to serve as mediators for settlement conferences and other settlement procedures in North Carolina Superior Court civil actions. She also has worked as an assistant for a law firm in her native state.