Safe Grain Bin Entry

1. Safe Grain Bin Entry Damon C. Nix, Research Engineer II

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. Grain Bin Entry Hazards • Hazardous Atmospheres • Oxygen Deficiency • Dust • Flammable and/or Toxic Gas/Vapors • Sources • Spoilage • Grain Dust • Mold • Fumigants

9. Grain Bin Entry Hazards • Machine Hazards • Auger Entanglement • Potential for amputation or worse • Unexpected Bin Loading • Suffocation due to engulfment • Unguarded Fans

10. 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.

11. Bin Entry Requirements • De-energize all equipment inside grain storage structures • Mechanical • Electrical • Pneumatic • Hydraulic

12. 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

13. Bin Entry Requirements • Fall / Engulfment Protection • Body Harness with Lifeline • Boatswain’s Chair • Lifeline must be positioned to prevent employee from sinking further than waist-deep in grain. • Exceptions: • Alternate, equivalent protection • Demonstration of no engulfment hazards

14. Bin Entry Requirements • Observer • Acts as attendant • Stationed outside bin • Maintains communication with employee entering bin • Trained in rescue procedures

15. Bin Entry Requirements • Rescue • Bin-specific plan and procedures • Rescue equipment • Communication for additional assistance • Training • Rescue Methods • Cofferdam/ Rescue Tube • Mechanical Retrieval Devices • Opening sides of bins to release grain Photo courtesy of Liberty Rescue Systems Photo courtesy of German Valley Fire Protection District

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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

19. Bin Entry Review • Entry Requirements • Permit • LOTO • Atmospheric Testing • Lifeline • Observer • Rescue Ops • Hazards • Engulfment • Entrapment • Hazardous Atmospheres • Mechanical Hazards

20. 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?

21. 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