Napoleon Fire and Rescue partners with local agricultural businesses to help prepare emergency responders for grain engulfment emergencies.

Grain engulfment is one of the most dangerous emergencies facing farmers and agricultural workers. When someone becomes trapped in flowing grain, a routine day on the farm can turn into a life-threatening situation in seconds.

A specialized grain engulfment simulator housed at the Napoleon Fire Department is helping emergency responders prepare for these dangerous situations through realistic, hands-on training.

The simulator is the result of a collaborative effort involving the Napoleon Fire Department, Custom Agri Systems, and Gerald Grain, with equipment and financial support from agricultural businesses and organizations throughout the region.

How the Simulator Works

The simulator uses a gravity wagon donated by Unverferth Manufacturing, along with a specially constructed enclosure that represents a grain bin.

Grain is loaded into the red gravity wagon and transferred by auger into the silver simulated grain bin, where a participant can experience what it feels like to become engulfed in grain.

The exercise allows participants to better understand the powerful forces involved in grain entrapment while giving emergency responders an opportunity to practice rescue procedures in a controlled training environment.

During the rescue exercise, first responders are secured with safety lines from above as they work to free the individual.

Using a specialized grain rescue tube, responders isolate the trapped person from the surrounding grain and remove grain from inside the tube, reducing pressure and allowing the individual to be freed.

The experience provides valuable training that can help emergency personnel respond more effectively when a real grain engulfment emergency occurs.

A Community Partnership

The simulator was designed through a partnership between Custom Agri Systems and Gerald Grain, with input from the Napoleon Fire Department.

Custom Agri Systems constructed the simulator, while Unverferth Manufacturing donated the gravity wagon used to supply grain to the training enclosure.

Special Recognition: Steve Queen

Special recognition goes to Steve Queen, former Safety Program Manager at Gerald Grain Center Inc., whose leadership and dedication played an instrumental role in establishing the Northwest Ohio Grain Safety Training initiative. Steve was a driving force behind the early development of the program, helping lay the groundwork for the training resource that serves the agricultural community today.

The finished project demonstrates what can be accomplished when local businesses, agricultural organizations and emergency services work together toward a shared goal: protecting the farming community.

Available for Training and Education

The grain engulfment simulator is housed at the Napoleon Fire Department in Napoleon, Ohio.

It is available as a training and educational resource for fire departments, FFA chapters and other organizations interested in learning about grain engulfment hazards and rescue procedures.

By offering hands-on experience, the simulator helps participants gain a greater appreciation for the dangers associated with stored grain and the specialized techniques required to conduct a rescue.

Organizations interested in arranging a training session or learning more about the simulator can contact the Napoleon Fire Department at (419) 592-0441.

Help Support Grain Safety Training

The Northwest Ohio Grain Safety Training Center is seeking additional financial support to equip and enhance its grain engulfment training simulator.

Current needs include a generator capable of powering the trailer, custom-built storage boxes to house grain rescue tubes, ropes, harnesses and rigging, and monitors or televisions that will allow spectators to watch live video feeds of training demonstrations.

Individuals, businesses and organizations interested in supporting this important agricultural safety initiative can make donations to:

NW Ohio Grain Safety
14540 County Road U
Napoleon, OH 43545

Every contribution helps strengthen hands-on safety training for farmers, emergency responders and agricultural communities throughout Northwest Ohio.

Recognizing the Community Partners

This important agricultural safety initiative was made possible through the support and contributions of numerous organizations.

Special recognition goes to:

• Unverferth Manufacturing — Donation of the gravity wagon
• Custom Agri Systems — Simulator design and construction
• Gerald Grain Center Inc. — Simulator design and project partnership

Additional thanks to the following contributors:

• Gerald Grain Center Feeds
• Farmers Elevator
• Scott Equity Exchange Cooperative
• Safety Made Simple
• Edon Farmers Co-op
• The Jewell Grain Co.
• Legacy Farmers Cooperative
• Mercer Landmark, Inc.
• Miller Construction, LTD
• Ohio Farm Bureau — Fulton, Henry, Defiance and Williams Counties
• CHS Insurance
• Ohio AgriBusiness Association
• Advanced Safety and Compliance Services

Their contributions have helped create a valuable training resource that can serve farming communities and emergency responders throughout Northwest Ohio.

The goal is simple: better training, greater awareness and safer outcomes when every second counts.