UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Visitors to the Farm Safety Demonstration Area at Penn State’s Ag Progress Days, Aug. 9-11, can learn about the dangers of grain leaks in space-constrained grain warehouses and best practices to avoid and to respond to congestion risks.
Six demonstrations in total – at 10am, noon and 2pm on Tuesday and Thursday – will show how grain flows into storage structures, as well as hazards, anchor points and best practices for preventing snagging and snagging. of wheat. The demonstrations are supported by a research grant from the Northeast Center for Occupational Safety and Health, an agricultural education, research and prevention center funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Agricultural safety specialists will conduct two grain bin rescue demonstrations to highlight the types of rescue equipment and training available to first responders to properly manage farm incidents involving grain storage. These demonstrations will take place at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm on Wednesday, August 10. Experts will be available to field questions about safe operating practices around a farm and provide advice on a wide range of safety topics.
The Farm Safety Demonstration Area will also host Penn State faculty members demonstrating the safe use of unmanned aerial vehicles, commonly called drones. Visitors can watch drones in action and learn about their uses in agriculture. Demonstrations will take place at 9am on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and at 3pm on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Visitors to the rural health and safety tent, at the end of West Sixth Street and adjacent to the Farm Safety Zone, can learn about vehicle and bicycle safety throughout the grounds and also take advantage of a variety of free health screenings and information. . Health specialists will provide carotid artery screenings, vision screenings and health and safety information from 9am to 3pm daily.
Carotid artery screening uses ultrasound technology to visualize inside the carotid arteries in the neck for fatty plaque buildup that can lead to a stroke. According to organizers, blockage of the carotid artery is the leading cause of strokes, and more than half of all victims show no warning signs.
Also in the rural health and safety tent, representatives from AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians will provide information on farming with disabilities or a long-term health condition. Visitors can see demonstrations of farm-related assistive technology, participate in a safe lifting activity, learn about AgrAbility services and hear success stories from farmers across the state.
Pesticide applicators can earn pesticide major credits by attending 30-minute presentations from the Standard Worker Protection program. Two classes – each worth one core credit – will be held in the Rural Health and Safety tent.
“Personal Protective Equipment – Head to Toe: Handlers, Protect Yourself from Pesticides” will begin at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and cover personal protective equipment used to protect handlers from pesticides.
“Personal Protection – What’s Included in a Respirator Fit Test?” will take place at 13:00 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Pesticide handlers who work with pesticides that require respirators must pass an annual three-part respirator fit test. Instructors will discuss what pesticide applicators need to know about the requirements.
Groups providing support for activities in the Rural Health and Safety tent include AgrAbility for Pennsylvanians, Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health, Preventive Health Screenings, American Trauma Society, Penn State Health and Northcentral Sight Services, Inc.
Sponsored by Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, Ag Progress Days is held at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center in Rock Springs, 9 miles southwest of State College on Route 45. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Aug. 9 ; 09:00-19:00 August 10; and 09:00-16:00 August 11. Entrance and parking are free.
For more information, visit the Ag Progress Days website. Twitter users can find and share information about the event using the hashtag #agprogressdays, and the event can also be found on Facebook (@AgProgressDays).
