CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA — OPI and HTS Ag provided grain rescue tube and specialized training to Minden Fire & Rescue in Minden, Iowa, US, through Nationwide’s Grain Bin Safety advocacy campaign.

Every year, thousands of farmers and commercial grain handlers risk their lives by entering grain bins to remove clumped or rotted grain. The risks of entering grain bins continue to be overlooked.

“It only takes seconds, or a simple mistake, for an adult to sink in the quicksand-like flow of grain and become fully entrapped or engulfed,” said Brad Liggett, president of Agribusiness at Nationwide. “Adding to the risk is a lack of rescue equipment available to local fire departments and emergency responders who are called for help when a worker becomes trapped.”

Nationwide began its Grain Bin Safety campaign in 2014 to bring awareness to the hazards of entering grain structures and to equip fire departments with the resources needed to respond effectively.

Minden Fire & Rescue is one of more than 272 fire departments to receive these resources and benefit from the program since its inception.

“As longtime members of the agriculture industry, we fully understand the risks our customers undertake every day, and we’re proud to equip first responders with another tool to keep our rural communities safe,” said Dave Compton, chief executive officer, OPI.

The grain rescue tube delivery and training was conducted by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) and included simulations of entrapments and rescues using a state-of-the-art grain entrapment simulator, which is loaded on a trailer and able to hold about 100 bushels of grain.

Since 2014, at least seven fire departments have put the tubes and training to use to save the lives of workers trapped in grain bins.

“With long-standing roots in agriculture, we’re thankful for the work America’s farmers do and for the contributions of our valuable partners who help us make a difference with this campaign in rural communities,” Liggett said.