Winnipeg, MB, December 14, 2021 – The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is pleased to announce that over 450 firefighters in 19 training sessions were trained how to respond to grain entrapment incidents through BeGrainSafe, CASA’s grain safety program in 2021. This is the most training and sessions held in one year since the inception of the program.
“Even with significant challenges delivering BeGrainSafe training in 2021, including early harvest across much of the Prairies, wildfires and COVID, this year was very successful,” says Robert Gobeil, CASA’s Agricultural Safety and Health Specialist. “It is with thanks to many individuals and organizations that more firefighters than ever have taken part in this life-saving training. BeGrainSafe master trainers, fire departments, local community members, and sponsors all worked hard to make each training session successful.”
The BeGrainSafe program, the first of its kind in Canada, works to educate and train in the dangers of moving grain. At the heart of the program is the BeGrainSafe Trailer, a mobile training and demonstration unit that allows firefighters to have practical, hands-on experience in grain extraction processes.
“CASA was thrilled to be able to move the trailer across Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta in 2021 training firefighters” says Andrea Lear, CASA’s Chief Executive Officer. “In 2022, we are looking forward to taking this training all the way from the Prairies, through Central Canada and into the Maritimes. The more firefighters that are trained, the more prepared communities are in case of a grain entrapment.”
The BeGrainSafe program would not be possible without the generous support of sponsors including the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal, provincial and territorial initiative, G3, FMC, Corteva AgriScience, CN, Canadian Canola Growers Association, Manitoba Canola Growers, Farm Credit Canada, SaskWheat, SaskCanola, Alberta Canola, Viterra, Alberta Wheat Commission, Prairie Oat Growers Association and GSI. Also in 2021, Westfield Industries in Rosenort, MB generously donated a new auger for the Trailer increasing reliability.
For more information about BeGrainSafe, including resources, BeGrainSafe week, and training, visit casa-acsa.ca/begrainsafe.
The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the health and safety of farmers, their families and agricultural workers. CASA is funded in part through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, federal, provincial and territorial initiative and receives additional support from the agricultural and corporate sectors. For more information, visit www.casa-acsa.ca, find us on Facebook or LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter @planfarmsafety.
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Robin Anderson
Communications Coordinator CASA/ACSA
877-452-2272 / randerson@casa-acsa.ca
