AUGUST 2024 25 Other Services Design Services Site Development Full General Contractor Renovations & Remodels 800-367-3424 www.MarcusConstruction.com Storage Solutions for Dry Fertilizer Storage Liquid Fertilizer Storage Chemical & Seed Warehouses • Aiming for minimal bin entry. • If entry is unavoidable, enforce strict safety procedures like equipment lockout or tagout, hav- ing a safety observer, and using harnesses. Other dangerous risks, like respiratory problems, falls, and dust explosions, can be reduced with proper respirators, safe ladder access, careful handling around power lines, and diligent cleaning. The warning signs about entering a grain bin are self-explanatory, as are limiting bin access and working from outside the bin. The safest option is, of course, to avoid entering the grain bin. But, should you feel that you need to enter the bin, never work alone. One person can enter the bin, but the other remains outside the space, watching the person inside. The person going inside the bin should also be attached to a safety harness system. The harness should prevent the wearer from falling too far down—perhaps just 30 centimetres—holding them in place in case of a grain collapse. Now, should the person inside be overcome or trapped, the person outside should not enter the bin. If the person outside is unable to raise the trapped individual without going in the bin, they should refrain from entering the bin and instead call for emergency services help. In the previous paragraph, we used the word “overcome.” That’s because a grain bin can limit the amount of oxygen within it. Workers should have an air monitor available because it’s only safe to work in a grain bin if there is a minimum of 19.5 percent oxygen within it. If that’s not the case, you should ventilate the bin until that minimum percentage is achieved. Another great tip is to turn off the grain bin’s equipment—you know, like the auger. It should be turned off and locked in the off position so that the auger cannot be accidentally turned on while a crew is working around the bin. This is especially helpful if a harness safety system is not being used. Some PPE (personal protective equipment) that should be on hand and used if working on a grain bin are gloves, safety glasses or goggles or a face shield, a dust filter, a harness, a safety line, and a mechanical winch. As noted, an oxygen meter would also be helpful. Then again, not entering the grain bin removes all of the problems and concerns regarding worker safety. Canada: Be Grain Safe Week 2024 is a reminder for Canadian farmers to uphold these safety standards and protect lives on the farm. WORKER SAFETY
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