More Firefighters Trained than ever through CASA’s BeGrainSafe Program

WINNIPEG, MB –/COMMUNITYWIRE/–  The Canadian Agricultural Safety Association (CASA) is pleased to announce that over 600 firefighters from 25 fire departments were trained how to respond to grain entrapment incidents through BeGrainSafe, CASA’s grain safety program from February through November 2022. 2022 marks a 30 percent increase of firefighters trained from 2021.

“The continued success and need for the BeGrainSafe training shows just how important this program is,” says Andrea Lear, CASA’s Chief Executive Officer. “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.   

In 2022, the BeGrainSafe program trained firefighters in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. In 2023, training will start in Ontario in February.

“We were able to train 87 firefighters in two weeks in our own department,” says Russ Lloyd, BeGrainSafe Master Trainer and Safety/Training Officer for the City of Sarnia. “Every day we respond to car accidents, kitchen fires, and incidents that we are well-trained in that we respond to all the time. The calls we don’t get all the time are the agricultural incidents, but because of the lower frequency, there is a high potential of risk – of not getting there fast enough, or not knowing what to do. The BeGrainSafe program helps fill those knowledge gaps.”

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, Corteva Agriscience, CN, FMC, Agriculture Financial Services Corp., Alberta Canola, Alberta Wheat, Bayer Crop Science,  Canadian Canola Growers Association, FCC, Nutrien Ag Solutions, SaskCanola, Sask Wheat, Viterra, Manitoba Canola Growers, Grain Farmers of Ontario, and Prairie Oat Growers Association.

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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Contact:

Robin Anderson
Communications Coordinator CASA/ACSA
877-452-2272 / mailto:randerson@casa-acsa.ca