Author: Levi Berg
Planning Unit: Clark County CES
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Plan of Work: Horticulture, Livestock, Forages, Agriculture
Outcome: Long-Term Outcome
According to the 2022 Summary of U.S. Agricultural Confined Space-Related Injuries and Fatalities report completed by Purdue University, there were no fewer than 42 grain related entrapments in 2022 representing a 44.8% increase over 2021. This was the highest number of grain entrapments in over a decade. With the knowledge of potential injuries caused by grain bins and the increased number of grain bins in Clark County, two agricultural producers approached the Clark County Extension Office with an idea. The two ag producers noticed that none of the Clark County Fire Rescue stations had the equipment to help ag producers during a grain bin entrapment, and those producers wanted help to change this. After meetings, the ag producers and Clark County Extension determined what equipment needed to be purchased, and determined what type of training was needed for the Clark County firefighters to confidently use the equipment. Next, donations from Clark County Farm Bureau, Clark County Cattlemens, Clark County Southern States, and Clark County Extension were pooled together to purchase 3 quick response safety systems (one for each Clark County Fire and Rescue station) and one extraction system to ultimately retrieve someone entrapped by in a grain bin. Also, an instructor was coordinated to teach the firefights at a local farm with grain bins, so the firefighters had hands on experience with using the equipment. Overall, all but five county firefighters were trained in how to the use the equipment, and locations have been determined for future practice have been established. Hopefully this equipment is never used, but in case of a grain bin entrapment, the Clark County Firefighters are now trained and equipped to handle the situation.
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