The growing enthusiasm for the annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction has given rise to a new, similar event: the National Safety Stand-Up for Grain Safety Week. It’s happening this week.

The event is designed to raise awareness about the hazards in the grain handling industry, which include engulfment/entrapment; slip, trip, and fall prevention; mechanical hazards; machine guarding; and lockout/tagout. Demonstrations of those hazards – along with discussions about how to abate them, were held at the Asmark Institute Agricenter in Bloomington, Illinois yesterday.

The Stand-Up was initiated by representatives from OSHA – including Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt - and industry leaders.

“OSHA appreciates the safety and health commitment of grain handling industry employers and employees who provide food security for America,” said Sweatt. “Grain Safety Week works to increase worker protection awareness by focusing on the hazards in grain handling, and take advantage of available training tools to implement best practices and effective safety and health programs.”