Kokomo Grain

January 2010 is now behind us, most of the crops are in, many bins are full and it won’t be long until we might want to open up some bins. Winter months are difficult times to keep good watch on the grain to see how it’s keeping. The bin ladders and roofs might be icy or slick and it’s usually windy or cold. There are some tell tale signs to watch for through the winter months to see how well the grain is keeping. Some things to look for, which DO NOT REQUIRE BIN ENTRYare;

These are all signs of possible problems. Checking the bins weekly during the winter months, from the ground, is always a good idea.

This could be a difficult year to store grain, so it would warrant a closer watch than most years. If it becomes necessary to draw some grain out of the bin, make sure the guards are in place and the electrical cords or conduit has not been damaged during the winter. Falling snow and ice can do damage around a bin.

Most importantly, remember to NEVER go into a bin alone, or while equipment is running. Proper bin entry procedures should always be followed. Never take chances. The life you save, maybe someone’s, loved one.

January is usually a busy time of the year for most people. Not only do we look at the new year to see what it might bring, but look back at the old year to see what it leaves behind. We may have a lot of catching up to do, from completing tasks to finishing up year end records. It’s always good to look at the past year, so we can learn from it and plan for the New Year.

As we plan for the year to come, we may see where we need to make some adjustments or changes in what we are doing or what kind of records we are keeping. Documentation is not always a fun thing to do, but is almost always a valuable tool to use to look back on and see where we have been or where we are going. January is a good month to evaluate where we have been and where we are headed. Starting out the year updating our records such as;

These are just a few areas that keep us busy preparing for the year to come. While we plan for the future, we should also take a look at the past as to how safe were we?

There are many other areas to look at, but these are just a few reminders to consider as we start off a new year. Also, always try to find a way to promote safety at what you are doing and remember, “Safety is no accident.”

One of the most important areas of training is, the proper use and wearing of PPE. It doesn’t sound like a difficult training session, but there is more to it than just putting on safety equipment for a particular job. We should do a “Job Hazard Analysis”, before performing a job and see if there is a hazard involved. If there is, we need to either remove or isolate the hazard or see what other methods we may use to protect ourselves from the hazard. If the job requires wearing PPE to protect us from certain hazards, we need to be sure to follow some basic procedures.

Different areas on our body we may need to protect could include eyes, ears, head, hands, feet, and any other areas that could be exposed to a hazard while doing a job. Personal Protective Equipment should be just like it says, personal.

The equipment should fit the user to allow the user mobility while at the same time protecting the user from a hazard.

Remember to be sure and take the time to wear the proper equipment, as it could be the best time you ever spent. We can have the best equipment in the world and be trained properly, but if we don’t wear it……….

I would like to pass on some information that might surprise some people. The information would have to do with “Dust Explosions & Reported Grain Engulfment’s”. Although dust explosions are not very likely on the farm, grain engulfments continue to be a problem on the farm and off the farm. What surprises me the most, is that the majority of people trapped in grain, are the ones that have been in the industry or farming the longest. Most of them are 50 and over. (Might have to do with the mentality of “it couldn’t happen to me”.)

The above statement in red could become a safety decal at grain bin entry doors in the near future. There are several safety designs that some would like to see on future grain bins, such as anchor points for securing a life line, wider doors and handrails, to name a few. We still have to realize, even with all the safety additions and decals on the bin, it is still up to the person at the doorway to make a decision NOT to enter the bin on there own. There are times when we have to enter a bin with grain in it, but there needs to be some safety precautions taken before entering.

I am including some interesting facts about dust explosions and reported grain engulfment’s that are by permission from GEAPS, Steel Bin Manufactures Council and Purdue University.

The Bin Entry / Tech Rescue Advisory Committee would like to suggest that the use of decals, similar to the one attached, be posted near bin openings in the future (and/or) simply used in break & control rooms for training purposes and as a reminder of how hazardous this type of activity can be, if employees take short cuts and do not follow the S.O.P.’s.

We need to reinforce the fact that operators. STOP. . And consider the (4) issues highlighted, before they put themselves into a dangerous situation by entering a bin or tank with grain in it that could potentially engulf or entrap them.

STAY OUT: The industry must move towards a ZERO ENTRY mentality in the future. Hopefully, discharge or unloading systems will be designed that would not plug as easily. Sump wells or discharge points should be larger and an off-set hole should be provided in the event that the center opening plugs. Every attempt should be made to keep people out of bins, if possible. In larger bins, tunnels should be built to allow safe service of discharge or unloading equipment.

1) NEVER ENTER ALONE: Under NO circumstances should anyone enter a bin with grain moving. Once everything is locked out, an entrant must have an observer or attendant to back them up. Both, entrant and attendant must be adequately trained to recognize the potential hazards relative to Permit Required Confined Spaces. Basic rescue equipment should be available, along with an adequately trained and equipped rescue team that has been so identified. Ideally, all facilities should perform annual training at their site with qualified rescue teams. This training should involve the performance of high-angle rescue techniques.

2) Follow Entry Permit: There are spaces within the grain industry that may fall under the exception of 1910.272; however, it is probably in the best interests of the grain industry, if a permit were used at all times whenever there is more than (2 – 3) feet of grain in a bin.

3) SECURE LIFE LINE: OSHA makes reference to harnesses and life lines in 29 CFR 1910.272. Unfortunately, no one addresses how operators entering bins should secure the life line. Using a life line without an overhead anchorage point and a reasonable way for the attendant to secure the life line, if it is subjected to a 600-800 lb. jerk, is dangerous. All grain bins built in the future should have some type of an overhead anchorage point to which the life line can be secured. The attendant should be trained to maintain a minimum amount of slack in the life line and still be able to secure it promptly and unconditionally, if a problem develops. This can be done easily with either a tensionless hitch or a tandem prussic. These restraint systems should never be referred to as fall-protection systems. The restraint systems do not need to be designed to support a 5,000 lb. load. An 800 to 1,200 lb. load is more realistic, and this assumes a 2:1 safety factor. Given the nature of the situation, referring to it as a fall-protection system is misleading, unproductive, and unrealistic.

4) DON’T BECOME A STATISTIC: The industry has lost more people due to grain engulfments, in the past 10-15 years, than dust explosions. Grain engulfments have been the leading cause of fatalities in grain handling operations in recent years. . It is difficult to identify the actual number of – Total - engulfments, which the industry has actually experienced. “Recorded” cases in the last 5 years have been in the range of 25-34 per year. However, total cases “recorded” and “unreported” combined are more likely in the range of 35-45 per year. For many reasons, a significant number of partial engulfments are not reported. Many in the agricultural industry do not take the potential threat of a grain engulfment seriously. Help educate everyone that taking short-cuts in grain bins can be deadly and should not be tolerated.

First Aid is one of the areas that most people don’t want to get involved in, for one reason or another. Some reasons might be as,

Although some of these may be reasons of your choice, you may happen on a situation where you are the first one at an accident scene. It would be difficult to walk away from some one who needs medical help in an emergency. So first aid training is something we should all be familiar with, even if we only needed it to use on ourselves.

If you wonder if a person could sue you if you tried to help them in an emergency, the law would be on your side. The law says a conscious person must give you permission to help. However, the law also assumes an unconscious person would give consent. So if a victim is unconscious, assume you have permission.

Here are a few really basic procedures to follow if you come upon an accident scene;

1. Survey the scene. Be sure it is safe for your self to approach the victim to give them help. Try to figure out quickly what has happened, so as you don’t put your self in harms way.

2. Survey the victim. Check the victim for the ABC’s. Airway, Breathing, Circulation. These can all be done in a rather quick manner. It would also be good to check next for bleeding or other obvious injuries.

3. Call for Emergency Medical help. Make the call yourself or if there is someone else around to call, have them make the call. You may have to give the address of the scene and a summary of what the emergency is.

If you happen on to an emergency situation, it is usually better to call for help right away than to wait. The first hour is usually the most important. Even if you feel like you can’t perform first aid, you could make the call, keep the person calm, and comfort them till first aid arrives. Someone’s life may depend on it.