Roland firefighters recently learned how dangerous it is to get stuck in grain and how to rescue victims after the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) took its grain-rescue training course on the road.
Grain Safety Awareness Week was from Aug. 12-18, and it was perfect timing for training with the fast-approaching 2024 harvesting season. Grain bin safety awareness is key and can ultimately save lives.
This is the fourth year that the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) has held a BeGrainSafe Week, an initiative aimed at highlighting the dangers of grain handling and storage.
These efforts are crucial given the alarming statistic from Canadian Agricultural Injury Reporting, which noted 27 asphyxiation-related fatalities from grain or soil on farms between 2011 and 2020.
The Roland Fire Department has been graciously gifted the “GSI Res Q Tube,” which is lifesaving grain bin rescue equipment by Bob and Shelly Bartley of Roland. The Carman-Dufferin Fire Department also has a GSI Res-Q-Tube at its disposal.
“We wouldn’t even have this piece of equipment if it wasn’t for the Bartleys,” said Roland Fire Department secretary Lou-Ann Pichette. “They bought and donated it, so we can’t thank them enough.”
Grain rescue kits generally consist of firm mats, panels, an augur and a cordless drill. The mats are placed atop the grain to distribute the rescuers’ weight so that it’s not transferred to the victim. They also prevent rescuers from sinking too deeply into the grain. A series of long semi-circular panels, which snap together to form a tube, are placed around the victim and pushed as deeply as possible into the grain. A small augur, powered by a cordless drill, is then used to remove the grain from around the victim.
The grain has to be removed because of the pressure required to extract people, as trying to pull a victim out doesn’t work well. About 300 pounds of pressure is needed to extract someone buried up to the waist, and 900 pounds is needed for someone buried up to the shoulders.
According to CASA’s website, the majority of people who get trapped in grain do not survive. If the victim’s head gets buried beneath the grain, a combination of the force of the grain pressing on the chest and lungs and a lack of oxygen will typically result in a recovery operation rather than a rescue.
So, the Roland Fire Department wants to stress the critical importance of the practice for preventing farming accidents. With respect to Grain Bins, another individual should be told when and where you plan on attending to bins. Additionally, individuals should always utilize a buddy system when attending to bins. Safety measures should be focused on, and a buddy system should be used in case 911 is to be called, as time is of the essence.
CASA offers grain producers several training courses on topics such as grain engulfment and emergency management on the farm. A video demonstrating a grain rescue operation is available on CASA’s website.
“We invite the public to google’ GSI Res Q Tube’ and click on the arrow for a full video on how we use the equipment and how it ultimately can save a life,” said Pichette. “I challenge the public to do some research and check out the online video on how to use the equipment that can ultimately save a life.”
To learn more about grain safety and access valuable safety resources, please visit www.casa-acsa.ca/BeGrainSafe-Week.
