Sask. fire departments get needed boost from farm safety association, G3
By Collin Gallant on November 1, 2018.
Medicine Hat News Fire departments in Leader, Eston and the area around Swift Current will soon have more resources to enact grain rescues thanks to a partnership between a farm safety association and G3 grain marketers. A total of $100,000 will be spent to provide training and equipment to rural firefighters in 10 locations in Saskatchewan to better respond when farm workers become entrapped in grain. That includes $75,000 from the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association’s BeGrainSafe program, which warns producers about the dangers of becoming overcome in grain bins. G3 Canada Limited has donated $25,000 toward the purchase of specialized extraction equipment, including a grain rescue tube and portable auger for departments. The tube isolates the victim from the bulk of the grain and the auger allows rescuers to quickly move other grain away from the victim. “(It will) increase the probability of a victim surviving a grain entrapment,” says Robert Gobeil, CASA’s Agricultural Health and Safety Specialist. “Thanks to G3, this equipment will be available in areas throughout Saskatchewan.” G3 CEO Don Chapman said, “Safety is our No. 1 priority at G3 both for our employees and the communities where we live and work.” Departments in Humboldt, Melville, Churchbridge, Caronport, Estevan, Beechy and Nipawan are also set to receive the equipment and training. 10-9
