OSHA, Grain and Feed Association of Illinois, Illinois Grain Handling Safety Coalition work together to promote safe practices

CHICAGO - Five seconds. That is how quickly a worker can become engulfed in flowing grain and be unable to get out.

Sixty seconds. That is how quickly a worker can be completely submerged in flowing grain. More than half of all grain engulfments result in death by suffocation.

In 2010, at least 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain engulfments, the highest number on record. Among the deaths were two Illinois teens and a 49-year-old worker who had entered a grain bin "a million times."

In the past 50 years, more than 900 cases of grain engulfment have been reported with a fatality rate of 62 percent, according to researchers at Purdue University in Indiana.

Record death and injuries in 2010, led the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration to reach out to the agricultural and grain handling industries to find ways to prevent deaths and injuries. OSHA also developed a Local Emphasis Program for Grain Handling Facilities focusing on the grain and feed industry's six major hazards. These include engulfment, falls, auger entanglement, "struck by," combustible dust explosions and electrocution hazards.

"OSHA is working hard to change the 'it won't happen to me' mindset," said Nick Walters, OSHA Regional Administrator for six Midwestern states. "Grain handling injuries and deaths can be prevented if employers follow proper safety procedures."

Suffocation can occur when a worker becomes buried by grain as they walk on moving grain or attempt to clear grain built up on the inside of a bin. Moving grain acts like "quicksand" and can bury a worker in seconds. "Bridged" grain and vertical piles of stored grain can also collapse unexpectedly if a worker stands on or near it. The behavior and weight of the grain make it extremely difficult for a worker to get out of it without assistance.

OSHA and the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois have formed a state-wide alliance to get the word out on prevention. A grain bin entry permit has been developed to aid those working in and around bins to identify and control potential hazards.

"This alliance is an opportunity for OSHA to work together with the grain and agricultural industries and the agricultural community to train employers and workers about the unique hazards of the grain and feed industry," said Walters. "Through training, decals, brochures, websites, and other means of information communication, we will continue to work to improve awareness of these hazards and the safety and health of workers on Illinois farms and in grain handling facilities. We are committed to preventing the injuries and deaths that have been too frequent in the industry in recent years."

OSHA, the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois and the Illinois Grain Handling Safety Coalition have also developed a stop sign decal to adhere to grain bin doors using pictures and short phrases reminding entrants to lockout potentially hazardous equipment, stay clear of waist high grain, cover floor holes and to follow other best practices. Individuals or companies can email the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois at info@gfai.org to request the decal, which is pictured above.

OSHA has also published information related to common grain industry hazards and abatement methods, proper bin entry techniques, sweep auger use, and many other grain related topics at www.osha.gov/SLTC/grainhandling/index.html.  OSHA's Grain Bin LEP is used in 25 states.

In addition, the University of Illinois was awarded a U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration Susan Harwood Training Grant Program and has partnered with the Grain Handling Safety Coalition for the development of training materials and outreach to educate workers and employers on how to recognize, avoid and prevent safety and health hazards in grain bins.

The Grain Handling Safety Coalition can provide all the necessary training materials to train farmers, commercial grain handling employees, youth, rescue workers and more for free or at a very reduced rate. There are five different safety topics available including an overview of grain handling and storage safety, grain bin entry as well as entanglement, fall and confined space hazards. GHSC also offers "Train the Trainer" courses for companies and communities to have a local resource for training. More information is available at www.grainsafety.org .

To ask questions, obtain compliance assistance, file a complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, the public should call OSHA's toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742).

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. OSHA's role is to ensure these conditions exist for America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards, and providing training, education and assistance. For more information, visit http://www.osha.gov.

U.S. Department of Labor news materials are accessible at http://www.dol.gov.  The information above is available in large print, Braille, audio tape or disc from the COAST office upon request by calling 202-693-7828 or TTY 202-693-7755.

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Chris Tomlin

Burning Lights Tour

With Special Guest Louie Giglio

Friday, October 25, 7:30 pm

On Sale Friday, June 21 at 10 am

Accumulating the biggest first-week sales numbers of his history-making career, Chris Tomlin's latest album, Burning Lights, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. With more than 72,000 units sold, Burning Lights marks Tomlin's first trip to the top of the Billboard 200 and only the fourth time in history that a Christian music album has entered that chart at No. 1.

Ticket prices for his accompanying tour are $20.00, $25.00, and $35.00 and will go on sale this Friday at 10 am. Tickets are available at the iWireless Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000, and on-line at www.ticketmaster.com. For additional information visit www.christomlin.com

This week The US House of Representatives is set to vote on the misnamed "Farm Bill". This is not a farm bill; it's a food stamp bill. Food stamps make up roughly 80 percent of the bill. The 20 percent of the bill that is left is mostly handouts in the form of corporate welfare and other programs that benefit special interests.

Further, this "Farm Bill" is 56% MORE costly than the last. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projected the last farm bill, in 2008, to cost $604 billion. The new House farm bill is projected to cost a whopping $940 billion. This is 56 percent more than the 2008 farm bill. If this wasn't bad enough, the actual costs will likely be much greater, just like the actual costs of the 2008 bill

2.      This "farm" bill is a textbook example of legislative logrolling.  The issues of food stamps and farming are far too important to be jammed together in a behemoth of a bill totaling a trillion dollars. When it comes to debating a bill with a price tag as large as this one, Congress owes it to the American taxpayers to engage in careful consideration of these programs.

3.      The farm bill is filled with favors for special interests.  One of the ways Congress can achieve reform that benefits taxpayers is by separating the "farm" bill into two components and consider each independently on its own merits.  The combination of food stamps and farm policy into a single bill holds us back from debating meaningful reforms in either area.

4.      The farming industry as a whole is enjoying record profits, yet  special interests continue to lobby Congress to  create new programs that not only help guarantee profit, but pad their already healthy bottom line.  Large corporate farms don't need and shouldn't receive massive subsidies from taxpayers, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet.

a.       In fact, about 75 percent of large farms receive subsidies compared to only 24 percent of small farms.  Consider that people like former President Jimmy Carter, the Rockefeller family and even some Members of Congress receive these taxpayer-funded subsidies.

5.      Ironically the exact policies crafted in the 1930's to help struggling farmers are the same ones that are now placing the smaller farms at a competitive disadvantage with the larger farms.  A lot has changed since the enactment of the first farm bill.  Congress shouldn't continue outdated policies simply to coddle this thriving, innovative industry that is led by business leaders who can manage risk as well anyone else.

6.      Both the House and Senate "farm" bills eliminate flawed programs only to create new programs that could turn out to be even worse. Despite claims of cutting spending some the House is projected to spend 56 percent more than the projected costs of the 2008 farm bill.  Additionally, taxpayers could be on the hook for millions more because Congress is assuming the cost of these programs will be much cheaper than what reality may prove.

7.      Spending on food stamps has doubled between 2008 and 2011, from approximately $40 billion to $80 billion respectively.  Today roughly one in seven Americans receive food stamps, and although we're seeing a slowly improving economy, there has not been a corresponding decrease in the number of individuals receiving food stamps.  Despite these realities, the spending cuts proposed in the House version of the farm bill are so minimal that they won't even cover the amount of fraud, waste and abuse plaguing the food-stamp program.

8.      The farm bill is central planning at its very worst.  If left on its current path, the farm bill will continue to roll right over taxpayers and leave any notion of fiscal responsibility in the dust. When politicians from both parties come together to irresponsibly spend taxpayer dollars and drive up the cost of food for families, Congress isn't working for the American people

Party with a Purpose Provides Holiday Food Baskets & Gifts for Quad Cities Seniors

The 5th Annual Holiday Hat Bash will be held on:

Thursday, November 21, 2013

5:30-9 p.m.

CASI 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport, IA

The Center for Active Seniors, Inc. (CASI) is pleased to announce that Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS is joining forces with CASI to present the 5^th Annual Holiday Hat Bash which raises funds to make the holidays special for Quad Cities Seniors, by providing food baskets and gifts.

"Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS has over 150 years of community involvement history within our local cities and region. We are thrilled that they have agreed to be our presenting sponsor for the 5^th Annual Holiday Hat Bash. We are confident that with their support our goal of helping seniors in need will reach new heights." said Tom Bahls, CEO/ President of CASI.

"We have so many Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors agents and staff who are committed volunteers for CASI and the Hat Bash that it is a perfect fit for us to sponsor this event." Caroline Ruhl, President of Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS.

"The Hat Bash Steering Committee already has the ball rolling planning for this year's event. We are hoping to make this year's event even bigger." said Pat Johnson, Hat Bash Committee Chair

If you are interested in donating a raffle item towards this great cause, please contact Pat Johnson at 563-370-2962.

We can't wait to see you and your hat on November 21, 2013 at the 5^th Annual Holiday Hat Bash presented by Ruhl&Ruhl REALTORS.

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