|
As a service to the members of the association, there are times
that the GFAI will conduct research, and surveys for the industry. This
research is used to help the grain industry improve its working conditions,
make industry regulations more compatible with business operations, and
improve the quality control of the grain that is consumed all over the
world.
Many times the research is not in the form of surveys or traditional
academia styles of information collection. Many forms of the research are
conducted through the educational programs, special projects and various
surveys. All the information collected is used to benefit the membership by
saving them the effort of trying to collect the information each
independently with limited resources. The information can and has saved the
industry countless thousands of dollars in regulation fees, man-hours and
litigation and court fees.
Research conducted by the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois is
listed below:
Harvest Safety Video:
This 14 minute video and workbook set is the perfect tool for providing
basic safety information to new employees and a strong reminder to long-term
employees. Developed by the Safety•Health•Environmental Services of the
Grain and Feed Association of Illinois in cooperation with the Illinois
Department of Commerce and Community Affairs and GROWMARK, Inc., this video
and workbook combination is a must have for every employer concerned about
employee safety.
The primary goal of the video/workbook set is to reduce common accidents and
injuries associated with employees, especially new employees. It is designed
to give an overview of the tasks that employees complete as part of their
job, the associated hazards involved with those tasks, and safe procedures
for completing them. The video covers the following eight topics:
- General safety considerations
- Personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Dump pit safety
- Grain dust explosion causes and prevention
- Grain entrapment and grain storage structure entry
- Ladder safety
- Electrical safety
- Machine guarding/entanglement prevention.
|
 |
(More Info)(Link to current
news and Safety video order form)
IEPA Survey- For years the
Grain and Feed Association of Illinois has been working with the Illinois
Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) on Matters regarding dust emissions
from grain elevators in Illinois.
In 1996, the Association was able to get a rule change through the State
legislature, which did away with the “30%rule”. The IEPA implemented the
changes. US EPA has not yet accepted them and is waiting on the results of
computer modeling being done by the IEPA that supports the changes made in
1996 will not negatively affect the air quality in Illinois. The Association
has been working with IEPA to develop a realistic computer model that will
allow the US EPA to accept the changes.
The survey conducted by the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois involved
questioning grain facilities across the state about dust control systems,
total bushel throughput, number of pits and facility controls. The results
of the survey is available as a pdf (see below).
The results of the survey are being used to create a computer model of an
average elevator facility in Illinois. We are sure that the computer model
will show that grain facilities in the state of Illinois are well equipped
enough not to need the old 30% rule.
Survey results (link to
pdf)
|
