World Grain - February 2019 - 74

FEATURE

GEAPS

Exchange 2019 focuses on safety
Event March 9-12 in New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S., includes education sessions and expo
by Susan Reidy
GEAPS Exchange
2019 is March 9-12
in New Orleans,
Louisiana, U.S.

afety will be a key focus for the Grain Elevator
and Processing Society's (GEAPS) Exchange
2019, with an interactive grain bin rescue demonstration, multiple presentations in the Expo Hall and
educational sessions.
The event, which is March 9-12 at the Ernest N.
Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Lousiana,
U.S., will feature more than 400 exhibitors in the Expo
Hall, nearly 40 hours of educational programming and
a variety of networking opportunities at special events.
"The growth of this show over the last few years is
encouraging," said Robert Taylor, GEAPS International
president. "Along with a huge number of exhibitors, we
are seeing more and more companies reserving larger
spaces and bringing more equipment. This gives attendees more opportunities to get hands-on with equipment. Along with our Expo Pods and the new grain entrapment rescue demo, the Expo is a great opportunity
to build your skills and learn about the newest products
and technologies."
The rescue demo will be in the Expo Hall at various times throughout Exchange. The interactive training will reinforce proper rescue techniques for grain
entrapment and help participants build skills to keep
themselves and co-workers safe.
Grain entrapment continues to be a leading cause
of death or injury at grain handling facilities. In 2017,
the most recent year for which data is available, there
were 23 documented entrapment cases in the U.S., ac-

cording to information collected and reported by Purdue
University's Agricultural Safety and Health Program.
Entrapments accounted for 43% of the 54 cases involvLQJDJULFXOWXUDOFRQ¿QHGVSDFHVGRFXPHQWHGLQWKDW\HDU
Asphyxiations and entrapments had the highest fatality rate reported at 100% and 52% respectively, according to the 2017 summary of incidents. The number of
entrapment cases was down 26% from the 29 recorded
LQ DQG ZDV ORZHU WKDQ WKH ¿YH\HDU DYHUDJH RI
29.4 cases per year.
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drop from its peak of 40.4 in 2011. The number of fatal cases (1) is the second lowest since 1985 while the
number of non-fatal cases (12) was the fourth largest
recorded.
In addition to the grain bin rescue demonstration,
the Expo Pods in the Expo Hall on Monday, March 11
and Tuesday, March 12, will focus on safety. The pods
are some of the most interactive learning opportunities
at the Exchange, offering hands-on learning opportunities. Designed for small groups of up to 40 attendees, these sessions feature interactive presentations
and equipment demonstrations. Presentations include
hands-on time and question-and-answer sessions.
The pod sessions will cover open belt conveying
safety, enclosed belt installation, explosion protection
for bucket elevators, pipe conveyor technology and
safety, hazard monitoring systems, bucket elevator
safety, drag conveyor safety, OSHA requirements, bulk
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