Transcript Safe Grain Bin Entry - Georgia Institute of Technology

Safe Grain Bin Entry
Damon C. Nix, Research Engineer II
Why Enter a Grain Bin?
 Inspection
 Moisture Content
 “Hot Spots”
 Air Flow Distribution
 Pest Activity
 “Caking,” “Clumping,” or “Bridging”
 Preparation
 Assess additional storage capacity
 Cleaning
 Fumigation
Grain Bin Entry Hazards
 Grain Bin Entry Hazards
 Engulfment / Entrapment
 Hazardous Atmospheres
 Machine Hazards
 Video Resources
 Farm Basics Broadcast
 www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftySD7XVMdU
 National Corn Growers’ Association
 www.youtube.com/nationalcorngrowers
Grain Bin Entry Hazards
 Engulfment / Entrapment Risk Conditions:
 Standing on moving/flowing grain
 Working on or below a “bridging” condition
 Loosening piles of grain or grain built up on sides of the bin
Grain Bin Entry Hazards
 Engulfment / Entrapment: Standing on Flowing Grain
 Grain removal creates a column of flowing grain from top to
bottom – drawing whatever is on top down.
 Example:
 Auger removal at a low rate of 2,000 bushels per hour:
 2-3 seconds to react
 4-5 seconds to entrapment
 11-22 seconds to engulfment
Grain Bin Entry Hazards
 Engulfment / Entrapment: On/Below “Bridging” Condition
 Moisture or mold can cause grain spoilage, forming a
crust…like ‘thin ice’ over a pond.
 “Bridge” can easily collapse under a worker’s weight
 “Bridge” may also fall onto a worker below
Grain Bin Entry Hazards
 Engulfment / Entrapment: Grain Piles/Build-Up
 Funneling effect of removing grain can create piles on side of
bin
 Clumping can lead to large, unstable accumulations
 Piles can collapse unexpectedly
Grain Bin Entry Hazards
 Hazardous Atmospheres
 Oxygen Deficiency
 Dust
 Flammable and/or Toxic
Gas/Vapors
 Sources
 Spoilage
 Grain Dust
 Mold
 Fumigants
Grain Bin Entry Hazards
 Machine Hazards
 Auger Entanglement
 Potential for amputation or
worse
 Unexpected Bin Loading
 Suffocation due to engulfment
 Unguarded Fans
Bin Entry Requirements
 Entry Permit
 Written
 Kept on file until completion of entry
operation
 Certified
 By employer or employer’s
representative
 Ensures that precautions
required by the standard are
implemented.
 Exception:
 If employer, or representative, is
present during entire operation, then
the permit need not be written. BUT,
all precautions are still required to
be implemented.
Bin Entry Requirements
 De-energize all
equipment inside grain
storage structures
 Mechanical
 Electrical
 Pneumatic
 Hydraulic
Bin Entry Requirements
 Atmospheric Testing
 1st – Oxygen deficiency
 > 19.5%, < 23.5%
 2nd – Combustible gases
and vapors
 < 10% of LFL
 3rd – Flammable gases and
vapors
 < 10% of LFL
 4th – Toxic gases and
vapors
 < Permissible exposure limit
Bin Entry Requirements
 Fall / Engulfment Protection
 Body Harness with Lifeline
 Boatswain’s Chair
 Lifeline must be positioned
to prevent employee from
sinking further than waistdeep in grain.
 Exceptions:
 Alternate, equivalent
protection
 Demonstration of no
engulfment hazards
Bin Entry Requirements
 Observer
 Acts as attendant
 Stationed outside bin
 Maintains communication
with employee entering bin
 Trained in rescue
procedures
Bin Entry Requirements
 Rescue
 Bin-specific plan and
procedures
 Rescue equipment
 Communication for additional
assistance
Photo courtesy of Liberty Rescue Systems
 Training
 Rescue Methods
 Cofferdam / Rescue Tube
 Mechanical Retrieval Devices
 Opening sides of bins to
release grain
Photo courtesy of German Valley Fire Protection District
Bin Entry Requirements
 Bridging / Build-Up Check
 From below: No entry
allowed when engulfment
hazards present.
 From above: Must utilize
boatswain’s chair.
 Vibrating devices attached
to exterior of bin can assist
in removing build-up for
small bins.
Bin Entry Requirements
 Flat Storage Structures
 Ground Level Entry without
a Lifeline
 Atmospheric Testing
 LOTO
 No recent history of draw-off
problems that could create a
cavity
 No engulfment hazards present
Bin Entry Requirements
 Training
 Job-specific
 At least annual
 Hazard recognition and prevention:
 Dust accumulation and ignition sources
 Clearing choked legs, hot work, lockout, etc.
 Bin-entry specific:
 Engulfment hazards
 Mechanical hazards
 Entry Procedures
 Rescue Procedures
Bin Entry Review
 Hazards
 Engulfment
 Entrapment
 Hazardous Atmospheres
 Mechanical Hazards
 Entry Requirements






Permit
LOTO
Atmospheric Testing
Lifeline
Observer
Rescue Ops
Case Studies
 Review Case Studies
 Farm Worker Asphyxiated in Grain Silo in Indiana
 Farm Worker Suffocates in Flowing Grain while Clearing a
Blocked Grain Auger
 Iowa Farm Worker Suffocates / Trapped in Storage Bin
Filled with Unstable Grain Product
 Farmer Dies when Grain in Grain Bin Engulfs Him
 Based on the requirements of OSHA 1910.272, what
measures could have been taken to prevent these
fatalities?
 Questions?
References
 References and Resources
 OSHA Grain Handling Safety and Health
 http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/grainhandling/index.html
 OSHA Hazard Alert, Dangers of Engulfment and Suffocation
in Grain Bins
 http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/grainhandling/hazard_alert.html
 University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension, Suffocation
Hazards in Grain Bins
 http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/PDF/FSA-1010.pdf
 Oklahoma State University Stored Products Research and
Education Center, Grain Safety
 http://storedproducts.okstate.edu/Safety.html