New! – OSU – Grain C.A.R.T. (Comprehensive Agricultural Rescue Trailer) Grain Bin Rescue

Program Goal:
The overarching goal is to collaboratively develop a comprehensive agricultural rescue program. The program will consist of Ohio Fire Academy curriculum, professional training and education, outreach education and awareness.

Project Goal:
Design a portable grain rescue training modular suitable for agricultural rescue and other safety educational programs for agricultural audiences.

Project Objectives:
• Create various levels of rescue exercises, that simulate real life rescue situations first responders may encounter in rural emergencies
• Increase the capacity within rural rescue teams by optimizing the first responders’ knowledge and skill when responding to rural emergencies
• Develop an innovative demonstration unit for use with agricultural audiences to create awareness of hazards and reinforce best management practices while working in and around grain storage bins

Problem Statement:
A training need has been identified for first responders who are called to an agricultural scene where grain is stored. Grain bin rescues can be classified as confined space rescues, requiring technical training in various capacities. Rescue personnel have requested specific training in these unconventional rescue situations, where they have limited experience and limited knowledge of the agricultural conditions that exist.

Program Need:
Every 10 years, 235 farmers lose their life in an agricultural-related accident. Grain bin fatalities are steadily increasing each year. Such fatalities occur for a variety of reasons with the two most common being suffocation by engulfment and entanglement with moving parts.

The significance of agricultural rescue training and education opportunities in Ohio is based on professional firefighter capacities relative to the agricultural land use area they serve. As of October 2011, there were a total of 42,437 firefighters in Ohio. Of this total, 35% are Volunteer, 10% are Level 1, and 55% are Level 2. According to the Ohio Fire Chiefs’ Association, 80% of the fire departments in Ohio rely on Volunteer firefighters.
(http://associationdatabase.com/aws/OFCA/pt/sp/safer)

The majority, approximately 91%, of Ohio’s land use is agricultural. It is comprised of cropland, forest, and pasture. Ohio has 74,900 farms, totaling 3,800,000 acres; the average farm size is 184 acres (http://www.development.ohio.gov/research/documents/Ohio.pdf).

Partnerships:
This program maximizes the pubic-private partnerships between Ohio State University (OSU) Extension, the Ohio Fire Academy, and agribusinesses to address Ohio’s agricultural rescue training and education opportunities. The purpose of this project is to build a state-of-the-art mobile grain bin rescue training unit that will be utilized by the Ohio Fire Academy’s agricultural rescue direct delivery training modules, as well as OSU Extension’s grain bin rescue outreach education and awareness program.

OSU Extension and the Ohio Fire Academy have a history of agricultural rescue education collaboration that began in the late 1980’s. Examples include the training modules for on-site use at the Fire Academy, agricultural rescue demonstrations at Farm Science Review, presentations at OSU Extension field day events, and Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Safety Congress.

OSU Extension and Heritage Cooperative have been partners in delivering the grain bin rescue awareness program since 2009. This program has been provided as a demonstration at Farm Science Review and Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Safety Congress. The program has also been requested by communities, hospitals, and fire departments for on-site delivery at events such as county fairs, Bureau of Workers’ Compensation regional training events, and regional continuing education events for first responders.

Project Sponsors:
As founding sponsors, we are especially appreciative of the contributions made by the following companies. These companies believed in the concept, and stepped up to assist the student team to design and build the trailer. The state of Ohio is truly provileged to have this type of training unit available. Agricultural communities will benefit from their contributions for many years. A sincere thank you is extended to these companies for their gift to The Ohio State University, and ultimately to rescue personnel and farm families across the state. In alphabetical order:

* All-Phase Electric

* The Andersons

* Cargill AgHorizons

* Custom Agri Services

* Deerfield Farms Service

* Francis & Shipley Farms

* Gingway Products

* Heritage Coop

* Honeyville Metal

* JD Equipment

* Land O’Lakes

* Loadout Technologies