Chester, Maryland (November 18, 2024) – The Maryland Grain Producers Utilization Board (MGPUB) funded three new Grain Bin Rescue Tubes with trainings and a joint-training at the Maryland Commodity Classic this year. MGPUB sees the importance of being prepared for any emergency and with the help of other agricultural partners, there are 80 rescue tubes in close proximity to Maryland grain farmers. You can find your nearest tube online here. If you believe your local department would benefit from a rescue tube, please contact the Maryland Grain Producers office.
The Grain Bin Rescue Tube is designed to adapt to a multitude of grain entrapment rescue scenarios. The lightweight wall sections are easily maneuvered and can be aligned to form a wall or tube around the entrapped victim. The tube will stop the flow of grain towards the victim and block any additional pressure that may be created by rescuers. Then the rescuers will utilize a small auger to remove grain inside the tube and perform the rescue.
The specialized training is completed by the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) and includes 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.
In 2024, seven new tubes and two tube re-training’s were performed in Maryland with the help of local agricultural organizations. The new tubes can be located at the Cecilton Volunteer Fire Department, Church Hill Fire Department, Hartford County Special Operations Team, Lisbon Volunteer Fire Company, Maugansville Goodwill Volunteer Fire Company, New Midway Fire Company, and Upperco Volunteer Fire Department.
Every year, thousands of farmers and commercial grain handlers risk their lives by entering grain bins. As rural communities have come to know all too well, 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.
To help lead the fight against these accidents impacting agricultural communities, the country’s leading insurer of farmers and ranchers, 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. The Maryland Grain Producers has utilized check-off funds to add 11 tubes and extra trainings since 2022 with $69,000 of funding.
According to American Farm Bureau Federation, in 2022 Maryland has 55 million bushels of storage capacity.
To learn more or view grain bin safety resources, visit www.ThinkGrainBinSafety.com.
