Grain Bin Safety Week is Feb. 21 – 27, 2021

Over the past 50 years, more than 900 cases of grain engulfment have been reported in the U.S., with a fatality rate of 62 percent. In 2019, there were 38 documented grain entrapment cases, representing a 26.7% increase over 2018.1 The most tragic fact of all is that grain engulfments are highly preventable.

Marshfield Insurance and Nationwide are partnering with KC Supply Co., The National Education Center for Agricultural Safety (NECAS) and many others to increase awareness of the dangers of flowing grain and to bring visibility of advancements in safety procedures and technology that can help save lives through this exciting annual event.

Timed to heighten awareness of the dangers of grain bins in a period when many farmers and grain-handling operations are planning for the upcoming season, this weeklong event will help raise awareness of the dangers of grain bin entry and emphasize a zero-entry mentality if proper entry procedures aren’t followed.

Help us save lives!

GrainBinSafetyWeek.com

Check out the articles available that highlight how to prevent grain bin accidents, maintain grain quality and prepare for an emergency rescue. Access resources that include videos, risk management tools and website links to learn about the dangers of grain handling and storage and what you can do to follow best safety practices.

Facebook Live – Grain Bin Rescue Demonstration

On Wednesday, February 24 at 10:30 a.m. CT, Dan Neenan, NECAS Director, will be on Facebook Live demonstrating a grain bin rescue. Farmers and commercial grain handlers will gain valuable insights into grain rescue practices and more.

Nominate Your Local Fire Department Rescue Tube Contest

Contest period: The contest runs from January 1 to April 30, 2021.

A popular event in conjunction with Grain Bin Safety Week (Feb. 21-27, 2021), Nationwide is teaming up with NECAS, KC Supply Co. and others to award emergency first responders with grain rescue tubes and hands-on rescue training to help save lives.

2021 marks the eighth year of Grain Bin Safety Week and the Nominate Your Fire Department Contest. Since its inception, the contest has received nearly 5,000 nominations and has awarded grain rescue tubes and hands-on rescue training to 152 fire departments across 29 states. To date, tubes have been used to save the lives of four individuals.

To enter, provide your name, postal and email addresses, the name and address of your local fire department or emergency rescue team, and a one-page description of how the local fire department or rescue team and rural community would benefit from grain entrapment training and a rescue tube. Be sure to include how they plan to share the tube and training with nearby departments. Official rules can be found at nationwide.com/GBSWContestRules.

Completed nominations can be emailed to agcontest@nicc.edu or mailed to NECAS, Grain Bin Safety Contest, 8342 NICC Dr., Peosta, IA 52068, or submitted online.

For more information about or to participate in Grain Bin Safety Week 2021, go to grainbinsafetyweek.com.

About Nationwide Agribusiness

Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Company is an affiliated company of Nationwide®. Nationwide Agribusiness, rated A+ (Superior) by the A.M. Best Company, is the country’s #1 insurer of farms and ranches2 and is a leading insurer of commercial agribusiness in the food, fuel and fiber chain. For more information, visit nationwideagribusiness.com.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both AM Best and Standard & Poor’s. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products, including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; and pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

1 “2019 Summary of U.S. Agricultural Confined Space-Related Injuries and Fatalities,” Purdue University (March 12, 2020)

2 AM Best Market Share Report 2019.

For official rules and prize descriptions, visit nationwide.com/GBSWContestRules.