Recently we reported that a grain bin entrapment claimed the life of Roger Cain, a Rush county farmer, on January 13. We also noted that more training in this area was needed, but that grant money for the training was drying up.

Right on cue, Bill Field, Purdue University Extension ag specialist, has pulled another rabbit out of a hat. The master of stretching dollars and teaming various efforts together, has set up not one but two training sessions offered for young workers in the next few weeks. The first is this week, March 10. The second is April 1. Both are being offered free of charge.

YOUNG WORKER TRAINING: Take advantage of one of the free young worker training sessions coming up either later this week, March 10, or on April 1.

Part of the recent federal funding that Field and his staff utilized for grain bin training was to train young workers. The exposure that young workers have to hazardous situations, including grain bin entrapments, gained awareness when young Illinois boys died inside a grain bin while working on the job just a few years ago. The tragedy did raise awareness of the need to not only make employers more aware of what they were asking younger workers to do, but to also raise the awareness of the need to train younger workers, Bill field notes.

The March 10 session is 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. EST, and the second is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. EDT. Both will be held at the Purdue University ADM Innovation Center. It is located at 698 Ahlers Drive in West Lafayette.

The free event includes lunch, a hard hat and a certificate of completion on safety training, suitable of being used on a job resume. A major goal of the class is to make young workers aware of OSHA compliance standards for working in confined spaces, which include not only grain bins, but also silos and manure storage areas.

To register, contact [email protected] or register directly at goo.gl/forms/M7EyR2C8Jm.