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Ag Retailers Association commits to safety

The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) and the Fertilizer Institute have signed on to a new agreement between the EPA and OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, to prevent incidents like the deadly explosion at a fertilizer plant in Texas in 2013. The two-year agreement also involves first-responder groups.

Gary Farrell, Board Chairman of the Agriculture Retailers Association, says they have developed a Responsible Ag Program with the Fertilizer Institute and the first class of 24 independent inspectors will be checking on local retail companies, “Just going through at making sure that we’re meeting all of the federal, state and local requirements and finding that we are in compliance. Because we’re concerned about safety, first and foremost. The communities we work in and live in are a part of who we are, too.”

Also signing the EPA/OSHA agreement are the International Association of Fire Fighters, the National Volunteer Fire Council and the Ammonia Safety and Training Institute.

AUDIO:  Interview with Gary Farrell at 2014 NAFB Trade Talk (10:00 mp3):