In a critical push to improve farm safety and save lives, local workers and emergency responders recently tackled high-stakes, real-world grain bin and confined-space rescue training in Livingston.
A diverse group gathered for the hands-on sessions. Participants included employees from Biddick, Inc. and Hartung Brothers, alongside crews from the Livingston-Clifton and Montfort fire departments and Southwest Wisconsin Technical College. Together, they mastered lockout/tagout procedures, practiced harness use, and learned proper fire extinguisher techniques for confined environments.
Organizers designed the event to prevent agricultural accidents and prepare teams for real emergencies. During the live drills, volunteers experienced partial grain engulfment. Firefighters then stepped in, demonstrating how to use a grain rescue tube and specialized equipment to safely extract a trapped victim.
The initiative grew from conversations between longtime friends Theresa Sander, HR and safety administrator at Biddick, and Steve Williamson, purchasing agent and safety adviser for Hartung Brothers. They began planning the joint effort nearly two years ago.
“This joint training event isn’t only for required safety training for our employees,” Sander said. “It’s also a great opportunity to come together, visit, share thoughts and ideas, learn from others, and improve and expand the strong partnerships we have with each other.”
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