MGFA Safety & Health Program
The Minnesota Grain and Feed Association has entered into an agreement with the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association, to extend their highly successful safety and health program into Minnesota. The MGFA Safety and Health Program features an experienced staff whose focus is centered upon grain elevator and feed mill safety and health compliance. This limited industry focus provides for a good working relationship with the regulatory agencies impacting our industry and for an excellent understanding of regulatory priorities and issues specifically affecting a grain handling facility. The MGFA Safety & Health Program is competitively priced and offers a level of service unmatched in the industry.
The MGFA Safety and Health Program is directed by Dave Nelson. We invite you to take a good look at what this program can do to help you improve safety and health for your employees, friends and colleagues. You can’t afford to jeopardize the safety in and around your facility. This program can enhance an existing safety program and can bring members into compliance who have fallen behind or who are confused about compliance.
For information or to sign up for the program, contact Dave Nelson at (218) 784-8140 or MGFA at (651) 454-8212.
Regulatory Information
OSHA Makes Decision on Sweep Auger Issues: (03/28/2013)
We just received verification that Minnesota OSHA will be adhering to a decision rendered recently in Illinois by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Comission, in regards to the operation of grain bin sweep augers.They indicated that from this day forward, Minnesota OSHA will train their grain staff based on the decision of the Stipulation and Settlement Agreement relating to sweep augersaccording to Section III. (OSHRC Docket No. 11-2725 and OSHRC Docket No. 12-0624). Section lll contains 10 safety principals that will need to be followed when operating a grain bin sweep from inside the bin. Click here for a copy of the OSHA Review Commission findings, including the 10 safety principals contained in the settlement agreement.
More Sweeping Changes to OSHA's Sweep Auger Enforcement
Click here to read the NGFA’s “Government and Grain” document. Click here to read the article in the NGFA’s newsletter.
MDA's NH3 Service Status Policy
In 2007, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), in cooperation with industry, developed an Anhydrous Ammonia (NH3) Service Status Policy. Read more…
Combined Anhydrous Ammonia Inspection Checklist & Driver's Vehicle Inspection Report
Click the links below for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Transportation and Minnesota State Patrolcombined NH3 equipment inspection checklist and Driver’s Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR). Released October 2009
Reportable Food registry Compliance Guide Available from AFIA
The Reportable Food Registry was created by Congress in the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007.
On September 8, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration announced the opening of an electronic portal for reporting “reportable foods,” the term the act uses to describe products that have the reasonable potential of causing or having caused a serious, adverse health consequence or death in humans or animals. Read more….
Bioterrorism Act of 2002 & Registration of Food Facilities
The following in an excerpt from a previously published Safety & Health article written by Stu Letcher, MGFA Safety & Health Program Director.
“The Food and Drug Administration has published new regulations affecting food-handling facilities of all varieties including grain and feed handlers. The new regulations are a direct result of The Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, which directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take steps to protect the public from a threatened or actual terrorist attack on the U.S. food supply. Registration of Food Facilities is the interim final rule and requires domestic and foreign facilities that manufacture/process, pack, or hold food for human or animal consumption in the United States to register with the FDA by December 12, 2003…….”
Click here to read the full article. Click here to read or print the FDA’s booklet What You Need to Know About Registration of Food Facilities.
Safety & Health News
Caught in the Grain!
North Dakota State University publication revised by Kenneth Hellevang, agricultural engineer, demonstrating how grain entrapment happens, offering safety precautions and rescue procedures to follow. View the publication here.
MDA NOTICE: Unapproved Installation of Riser Valves in Anhydrous Nurse Tanks
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) recently issued an anhydrous ammonia (NH3) E-Blast, to alert nurse tank owners and operators of recent communications issued by two manufacturers of riser valves. Both manufacturers, Continental NH3 Products, Inc. and Squibb Taylor Inc./Parker Hannifin Corp., have issued communications that the installation of their riser valves in nurse tanks is not an approved use. Please read the attached communications from both manufacturers for more details.
This has been an issue that the MDA has been communicating during the NH3 compliance workshops for the last two/three years. Please contact the manufacturers for more details concerning this issue.
Continental NH3 Products Inc. – Riser and Nurse Tank Valve Safety Reminder
MGFA Safety & Health Program Brochure
Pre-Emergency Elevator Walk Through
2013 NGFA PRSC Boot Pit Guidance Document
OSHA Letter of Intrepretation on Fall Protection
An Introduction to the SPCC Program (PDF)
Manual Rope Pull Manlift Operating Permit Form
Electric Cage (Special Purpose Personnel) Manlift Operating Permit Form
Federal Grain Handling Standard CFR 1910.272
Buy your copy of the Elevator and Feed Mill Fire and Grain Bin Rescue Training Videos Here!