Madison Co. Fire Department receives grain safety equipment

JACKSON, Tenn. — Many of the ways to increase safety when working and living around grain storage involve basic safety practices, but more education and enforcement is needed on the farm.

An informal ceremony was held Thursday to present grain safety equipment to the Madison County Fire Department.

These items are being provided by UT Extension and Madison County Farm Bureau to be used for emergency rescues in the event that someone is trapped in a grain bin.

“Today, we are donating, with the help of Farm Bureau, three grain bin, turtle tubes. This is equipment that is used in the case of a grain bin entrapment or engulfment to help to keep from pressure building up on the individual, and also, allow them to move in to take some of that grain off of them,” said Hunter Goodman, UT Madison County AgResource agent.

Flowing grain can trap someone in just 4 to 5 seconds and that person will be completely covered in grain in about 22 seconds, according to the Grain Handling Safety Coalition.

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