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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1992-07-29, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1992. Farm Safety Week jg Li p July 25 - 31,1992 Farm Safety Assoc, warns of storage bin dangers Graphic demonstration Farm Safety consultant Steve Matistz demonstrates the ways that people can be killed in a grain bin accident. As the grain starts to flow it is drawn very quickly taking the person standing on it with it. In a matter of seconds the person is buried. The lungs compress then the grain covers the nose making working around grain bins avoid mishap. It takes only two or three seconds to become trapped in flowing grain. Within another 10 seconds, you can be completely submerged! Tn an effort to educate farmers of the dangers involved on the farm, the Farm Safety Association has released an information package regarding how to deal with differ­ ent hazards and how to prevent accidents. The Association warns against grain storage bins. They have pro­ vided settings for hundreds of deaths and entrapments across North America. Victims are most commonly engulfed while walking across the grains surface during bin unloading. There is a simple way to avoid this tragedy--never enter a grain bin while the unloading auger or suction tube is running. Grain flows in a funnel-shaped path to the unloading auger. This vortex of grain behaves very much like a water whirlpool. Velocity increases as grain flows from the bin wall at the top of the grain mass into a small, vertical column at the centre of the bin. The vertical column flows down through the grain mass at close to the rate of the unloading auger. Essentially no grain flows in from the surrounding mass. Rate of inflow at the centre top of a grain bin is so great that escape is impossible. Once engulfed in the grain flow, a victim is rapidly drawn down toward the bin floor. The few survivors of this type of entrapment say they deliberately covered their mouths and noses with their hands and did not panic. AH expressed amazement at the suffocation inevitable. When , people should work in pairs to tremendous speed of their engulf - ment. Many entrapments and suffoca­ tion have occurred in high capacity grain transport equipment, victims are either buried during loading from combine or storage, or drawn into the flow of grain as a vehicle is being unloaded. Most victims of this type of accident are under 16 years of age —don't allow young­ sters to enter grain transport equip­ ment! A thin layer of crusted, spoiled grain can conceal voids beneath the surface. A victim who breaks through this crust is quickly cov­ ered as an avalanche of grain col­ lapses into the cavity. Spoiled or caked grain can stand almost vertically. As grain is removed from the base of a caked mass, the potential for avalanche and engulfment increases dramati­ cally. Recently, an Ontario transport driver was buried in an avalanche of grain as he attempted to empty a bin from the inside with conven­ tional suction equipment. All bins should be equipped with properly designed doors to permit suction unloading from the exterior only. Some of the precaution for res­ cuers to take are: always assume that an entrapped victim is alive; under no circumstances should you start an unloading auger or open a gravity flow gate (the victim could be drawn into the auger or become wedged in the opening); if bin entry is required, the rescuer who goes into the structure should wear a body harness and be tied with a safety rope to at least two rescuers on the roof of the bin. GRAIN BIN RESCUE PROCE­ DURES: If the victim is complete­ ly submerged first turn on bin aeration fans to provide as much air as possible to the victim. The extra air has been credited with saving several lives in grain bin rescues. Next, call the local rescue squad to get experienced help to the accident site. Remove grain from the bin in the most rapid and orderly manner pos­ sible. Attempts to 'dig' a buried vic­ tim free are generally fruitless, because of the massive amount of material involved and the tendency of grain to back flow. Large opening should be cut uni­ formly around the base of the bin. Cut with an abrasive saw, air chis­ el, or cutting torch. These openings will greatly speed up grain removal. (If a torch is used, be alert for fire.) If suitable cutting equip­ ment isn't available, use the comer of a tractor loader bucket to ram holes in the bin wall. Cut emergency openings four to six feet above ground to reduce the Machinery often causes accidents The most severe farm accidents otten mvolve machinery. Missing guards and shields, failure to recog­ nize hazards and careless operation are common factors in a majority of farm equipment accidents. Manufacturers attempt to build safety features into equipment. Some potential hazards can't be completely eliminated without interfering with machine function. For example, if the blades on a rotary mower were completely shielded, they would not cut mate­ rial. Timely maintenance programs keep equipment in good operating condition—a proven factor in acci­ dent prevention. It is the responsi­ bility of machinery operators to recognize hazards and take the nec­ essary steps to protect themselves and others. Things to keep an eye open for are shear points, pinch points, wrap points, crush points, free-wheeling parts, pull-in points, thrown objects, springs, hydraulic systems, and slips and falls. Shear points are created when the edges of two objects move toward or next to each other closely enough to cut relatively soft materi­ al. Shear points are found on many types of crop cutting equipment. Typical examples include forage harvester heads and sickle bars on a variety of harvesting machines. Other pieces of farm equipment not specifically designed for cutting also harbour shear points. Grain augers fall into this category. Stay clear of shear points when machin­ ery is in operation, and shut down all power when cleaning or adjust­ ing equipment. Pinch points are created when two objects move together, with at least one of them moving in a cir­ cle. This hazard is common in power transmission devices such as belt and chain drives, feed rolls, and gear drives. Most pinch points are shielded on farm machinery. In the case of such devices as feed rollers, shield­ ing is not possible. Hand, hair and clothing can be pulled into pinch points if caution is not exercised. Always replace guards and shields. Any exposed, rotating machine potential for a grain build-up around the outside of the bin—this would block the flow. Ideally, you should make semi-circular or v- shaped cuts 30 - 40 inches across to form valves which, when bent up, allow grain to flow freely. When bent back into place, they slow or stop the flow. This type of control protects rescue workers inside of the bin, who otherwise might be drawn into a rapid, uncontrolled flow of grain. Space openings uniformly around the bin to reduce the risk of struc­ tural collapse and make it easier to remove grain from around the base. Once the victim has been uncov­ ered, the bin openings can be closed to allow safe access by res­ cuers. If the victim is only partially sub­ merged, follow the following pro­ cedures. If possible, lower a rescue squad member into the bin to reas­ sure the victim and to attempt to attach a body harness or life line. Don't try to pull the victim free with the line. The tremendous drag component is a potential wrap point Injuries usually occur when loose clothing or long hair catch on and wrap around rotating shafts. Protruding shaft ends can also become wrap points. Shafts may appear to be smooth, but small nicks, mud, or rust increase wrap potential.' -It is almost impossible to escape once wrapping of clothing begins, because of the power involved. The more your try to pull away the tighter the wrap becomes. Crush points are created when two objects move toward each other, or when one object moves toward a stationary object. Crush­ ing accidents often victimize a sec­ ond person, during such operations as hitching. Several crush point injuries and deaths are recorded every year. Avoid getting into a position that could lead to body parts being crushed by objects that are moving toward each other. The heavier a revolving part is, the longer it will continue to rotate after power is shut off. This char­ acteristic is called "free-wheeling." Rotary mower blades, baler fly­ wheels and various other farm machinery components will contin­ ue to move after power is shut off—often for several minutes. Injuries occur when operators shut off equipment, and attempt to clean or adjust a machine before components have completely stopped moving. Operator aware­ ness is the key to safety around free-wheeling parts. Pull-in injuries usually occur when someone tries to remove plant material or other obstacles which have become stuck in feed rolls or other machinery parts. Many limbs have been lost by farmers who were trying to unclog an operating com picker. Once the material is freed, it can pull a per­ son into the machine faster than they can react. Always shut off power before attempting to clear plugged equipment. Many farm machines throw material as a natural part of doing their job. Foreign objects, such as stones, sticks and other debris, may be taken into this equipment and expelled at tremendous speed. of the grain could cause further injuries. The life line is only intended to prevent further sinking. Check the victim's airway for grain. If he/she is experiencing breathing difficulties, administra­ tion of oxygen will help. Panic and struggle may be the chief reasons for respiratory problems, so try to calm the victim. Construct a shield if there is dan­ ger of further grain collapse. A steel drum with both ends removed, plywood and pieces of sheet metal formed into a circle have all been used successfully. You may need to remove a por­ tion of the bin's roof to get material inside. Once the shield is in place, it may be possible to free the victim by scooping grain from the inside of the shielded area. Use a board or sheet of plywood as a work plat­ form. Your can avoid entrapment by making it a policy to never walk on a stored grain surface. If entry is essential, use the life line and 'buddy' system! Bystanders or animals in the path of thrown objects could be serious­ ly injured. If available, use guards or deflectors to reduce the hazard. Springs are commonly used to help lift equipment, as shock absorbers, and to keep belts tight. Springs may harbour potentially dangerous stored energy. Always exercise caution when servicing springs. Before dismantling equipment, release any tension on the spring (if possible). Position yourself away from the direction of spring travel if the spring is compressed in any manner. Hydraulic systems store consid­ erable energy, often at pressures in excess of 2,000 pounds per square inch. Careless servicing, adjust­ ment, or replacement of parts can result in serious injury. High pressure blasts of hydraulic oil can injure eyes or other body parts. Follow instructions in the operator's manual to the letter when servicing hydraulic equipment. The following precautions are cru­ cial: make certain the hydraulic pump is turned off; lower attached equipment to the ground; confirm that load pressure is off the system. A pinhole leak in an hydraulic hose is a serious hazard. A leak may not be visible, and the only sign may be a few drops of fluid. Never inspect hydraulic hoses with your hands, because a fine jet of hydraulic fluid can pierce the skin. Use a piece of cardboard to check for leaks. Slips and falls are responsible for many farm workplace injuries. They become immensely more dan­ gerous around equipment. A sim­ ple slip may result in your being thrown into the path of oncoming equipment, or into fast moving machinery parts. Slips and falls often result from improper machinery mounting and dismounting practices, slippery footing on the ground or the machinery, or cluttered steps and work platforms. The potential for slips and falls can be greatly reduced by using good judgement and practising good housekeeping on and around equipment