Grain Journal - January/February 2009 - (Page 24) Safety by Design CHS CONSIDERED WORKER SAFETY AT MINNESOTA RIVER TERMINAL FROM DAY ONE CHS’ 560,000-bushel barge- and rail-loading terminal on the Minnesota River at Savage, MN. The elevator in the background at left belongs to Whitebox Riverport Savage LLC. Photos by Ed Zdrojewski. early in the mornOn mornings like this, ing in early January at the Operations Manager Clint CHS river terminal on the Gergen is glad that the SavMinnesota River in Savage, age terminal was designed MN, and the outside temright from the start and inperature is minus 28, eascreasingly automated over ily the coldest day of the the years in such a way as to winter so far. A brisk wind maximize safety and miniout of the west has pushed mize employee exposure to the wind chill down close the harshest elements as to minus 50, and the Namuch as possible. He knows tional Weather Service has all about it, because he’s Clint Gergen issued a wind chill advibeen in charge of this elevasory for the entire state. tor since construction began on it in Barge traffic on the Upper Missis1981, nearly 30 years ago. sippi River, a few miles down river He points out a window from the from the CHS terminal, is at a standfacility’s second-story office at a truck still, and there isn’t much truck traffic probe station for incoming grain. from farmers or country elevators, eiShortly after the terminal was built, ther. This morning, a lot of diesel he recalls, a metal probe stand was engines won’t even start. constructed so that employees wouldn’t 24 GJ J/F It’s have to climb up ladders on the side of truck trailers to collect samples. Next, an automated truck probe was added. Today, employees utilize a video camera to probe trucks safely and without damage to the vehicle, viewing it on closed circuit monitors available at several locations around the terminal. “If you want safety,” Gergen says, “you have to invest in safety.” On days like this, he says, that means instituting a special coldweather policy that includes expanded indoor break times. In addition, the company supplies outside crews with insulated work boots designed for traction on snow- and ice-covered surfaces and liners for hardhats. Fast, Efficient Turnaround The CHS terminal has the distinc-
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