Grain Bin Safety; Suffocation From Flowing Grain; Always Follow These Safety Precautions - Norwood The Grain Handler 8 Operator's Manual

Grain Bin Safety

SUFFOCATION FROM FLOWING GRAIN

You can suffocate in grain stored in a grain bin.
It is extremely dangerous to enter a partially or fully loaded
bin. Grain can act like quick sand and pull the worker under,
causing suffocation and death. Grain is a flowing material
and can trap you in seconds causing suffocation and death.
Crusted Material Will Collapse And Suffocate.
Flowing material will trap and suffocate.

Always follow these safety precautions:

1. Never enter a bin when it is being loaded or unloaded.
If you must enter the bin, you must do the following:
• Shut off and lock out all power.
• Use a safety harness and a safety line.
• Station persons outside the bin to assist.
• Avoid the center of the bin.
• Wear proper breathing equipment.
FAILURE TO HEED THIS WARNING MAY CAUSE SERIOUS
INJURY OR DEATH
2 - SAFETY INFORMATION
2. Even with the power off and locked out, the of flowing
grain may still exist if moldy or unconditioned grain at the
top of the bin has bridged or crusted. If the grain has been
partially unloaded, a void or airspace below bridged or
crusted grain may have been created.
This bridged or crusted grain may collapse under the
weight of a worker, trapping the worker in the grain and
causing suffocation and death. Sometimes looks can be
deceiving. Grain will crust over and look solid, but a cavity
develops.
If you are ever covered by flowing grain, cup your hands
over your mouth and take short breaths. This may keep
you alive until help arrives. A person outside can ven-
tilate the bin by turning on the fan (if equipped). Do not
run heaters as this will fill the bin with carbon monoxide.
It takes more than 1000 lb (453 kgf) of force to remove
someone buried below the surface.
3. Grain dust can cause explosions. Keep all flames, sparks
and smoking material out of the grain bin.
4. Use a grain cleaner to reduce grain dust, clumps, and
other debris before emptying the grain truck grain into
the grain bin.
5. Only when grain stops flowing from the center hopper
can the intermediate hopper gates be opened. Always
load and unload grain from the center of the grain bin.
Failure to maintain even grain height around walls
can cause structural failure of the bin and result in
serious injury,death or property damage.
6. When inner area of bin is nearly empty, the power sweep
auger will travel at an increasingly fast speed. Keep away
from power sweep, and hopper augers to avoid entan-
glement, which will result in death or serious injury.
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