GEAPS > Distance Learning: Course 540

Safety Management of Grain & Processing Facilities (GEAPS 540)

Course runs Jan. 11-Feb. 12, 2010

Registration is now closed.

Program, Objectives and Syllabus

Goal: The goal of the five week course will be to enhance the basic knowledge and skills of operations management staff within the grain handling and processing industry in order to minimize the most significant worker safety and health risks in the industry.

Focus: The primary audience of this course will be operations management staff and/or the individuals responsible for worker safety and health training for their respective companies or employees.

Course of Study

Week 1
Lesson 1 – Overview of Safety Management
This lecture discusses the reasons for and ways of, implementing and following safety programs at grain and processing facilities. 

Why safety matters to you

Primary reasons for accidents

Benefits of an effective safety program

Developing an action plan

Creating a safety culture

Making a safety program effective

Presenter – Mark Daniels, Director of Health and Safety, CHS Inc.

Lesson 2 – Lockout & Tagout
This lecture focuses on the development and implementation of lockout-tagout programs related to grain and processing facilities.

Definition of Lockout/Tagout

Discuss the purpose of LOTO and why the program saves lives.

What needs to be included in your LOTO plan

What do I need to do to control the energy and how do I do it?

Annual inspection of the LOTO program and written procedure

There are so many types of energy

Training requirements

Presenter – Mike Ravenstein, Safety Specialist, The Scoular Company

Week 2
Lesson 3 – Walking and Working Surfaces
This lecture reviews fall related prevention strategies for grain handling and processing facilities. 

Introduction to the topic & statistics

Categories of falls

Employer responsibilities

Overview of areas and equipment considered within walking & working surfaces

Presenter – Greg Rowe, Perdue Agribusiness

Lesson 4 – Confined Spaces in the Grain Industry
This lecture provides an overview of confined space entry procedures as they relate to the grain industry.

Statistics/Definitions

Employer responsibilities

Rules

Training

Hazards

Working with first responders

Permit/Reclassification

Presenter – Brandon Dills, Safety and Compliance Officer, Co-Mark Inc.

Week 3
Lesson 5 – Emergency Action Plans/Emergency Response
This lecture discusses developing an emergency response plan that will facilitate timely pre-planned response including types of emergencies to consider, and coordination with various emergency responders.

What is an emergency action plan (EAP)

Why have an EAP

Who is responsible for developing the plan

What do I put into my plan

Points of importance

When do I implement this plan

Where do I start

Build an outline

Assistance in developing your plan

Presenter - Mike Ravenstein, Safety Specialist, The Scoular Co.

Lesson 6 – Fire and Explosions in Grain Facilities
This lecture provides an overview of the hazards, industry experience and track record, operating parameters, and risk mitigation strategies to prevent fires and explosions in grain handling facilities.

Learn what creates a grain dust explosion

Discover what makes the difference between a fire and an explosion

Learn what regulations apply to the Grain Industry

Study prevention techniques such as good housekeeping and ignition Control

Presenter – Brandon Dills, Safety and Compliance Officer, Co-Mark Inc.

Week 4
Lesson 7 – Contractor Safety
This lecture highlights the framework to be employed at grain handling facilities to manage contractor issues, including documentation, training, auditing, and integration with other facility safety policies and procedures.

Developing an effective contractor safety policy

Contractor pre-certification

Safety training prior to work

Contractor documentation

Contractor auditing

Additional training aids

Presenter - Joe Mlynek, Loss Prevention Manager, The Andersons Inc.

Lesson 8 – Truck and Rail Safety
This lecture provides an overview of the hazards and prevention techniques that can be employed when working on or around rail and truck operations.

Communication and accountability

Safe work practices

Ergonomic issues 

Awareness in the work area

Fall protection

Traffic flow

Truck receiving / unloading safety

Truck loading safety

Presenter – Julie Bell, Regulatory Consultants Inc.

Week 5
Lesson 9 – Ag Chemical Safety
This lecture will address the various possible exposures and provide risk management strategies to help protect employees and assets.

What chemicals may be at my facility?

Hazard Communication

Worker Protection Standard

PPE

Training/Certification

Storage (704 diamond, fumigant)

Record Keeping

Annual Reporting

First Responders

Presenter – Joe Allen, Kansas Farmer Service Association

Lesson 10 – Flowing Grain Dangers
This lecture discusses engulfment and suffocation hazards associated with flowing grain and toxic atmospheres associated with stored grain.  It identifies the different ways individuals have become entrapped in grain.  The lecture also provides recommendations to reduce the likelihood of grain entrapment and/or suffocation

Introduction to the dangers of flowing grain

What is known about entrapments

Sites Involved

Seven types of engulfment

Responding to engulfment

Presenter – Matt Roberts, Research Assistant, Purdue University