Silo Shoveling Procedure
Silo Or Bin Shoveling Procedure:
Silo or steel bins that have been emptied to the point that contents will no longer flow freely (not because of blockage) will have to be entered in order to empty the contents.
1)For those silo’s or bins that do not have aeration, have all doors, hatches or man holes that can be opened, opened at least 15 minutes and preferably longer before entry. Grain silos or bins equipped with aeration should have the aeration turned on ½ hour before entry and then open the doors. If there are discharge fans on top of the silo or bin, these should be left running if possible. The ventilation fans must be left on for as long as the personnel are in the bin or silo.
2)Be sure that no product will be allowed to enter the confined space (bin or silo) when an employee is working in the bin or silo. Product entry points must be blocked off and/ or locked out.
3)Always check with supervisor to make sure that legs and conveyors (augers) are running and that grain is going into proper place.
4)Explosion proof lighting must be used in silo’s and bin’s.
5)Test the air before entry.
6)The confined space entry permit must be properly filled out and authorized before entry.
7)Before entering, inspect silo for grain hanging on the walls. If so, do not enter. Immediately report the situation to your supervisor. At no time will a silo or bin be entered from the bottom if material is hung up on the walls or bridged up. In these cases entry must be made from the top and the employee is never to work below the level of the material in the bin or silo. (use and follow proper entry procedures Safe Loss and Control Procedures-General and Maintenance-tripod retrieval Procedure S.21).
8)Make sure no stored grain is spoiled; if grain is spoiled you will be required to report this to your supervisor immediately.
9)Make sure bottom door is free and open at all times when in silo or bin.
10)Some locations have portable protective grates that are to be inserted into the floor opening for protection from the unloading auger. If you don’t have grates, slides must be partially opened, not more than three inches so that a foot will not easily go in. If the slide lever(s) can be locked at the three inches, lock the slide and one of the people in the bin keeps the key(s) with them at all times until the bin is empty and the unloading auger is turned off.
11) The sweep auger must be able to start working on a level surface for stability. Shovel an area (track) for the sweep auger to be placed. Once the area is completed, shut all the slides, except the center slide. Keep your hands and feet away from the center opening of the bin or silo floor while unloading auger is running. Sweep auger must be on center pivot.
12)Never stand in direct line of grain flowing into thesweep auger. (to avoid being entrapped in the flow of grain and risking an auger entanglement).
13)You are required to have a minimum of two people in the silo or bin with at least one person having silo shoveling experience. We are also requiring an inline explosion proof emergency shut off switch hanging inside the bin at the door or asweep auger safety device connected to the portable sweep auger cord. If the switch is located outside the silo or bin, an additional employee must be located outside the silo or bin to be readily available to shut the switch off, in case of emergency.
14)Check all extension cords and lights for any damage (see section on general maintenance- extension cords plugs, receptacles and connectors as well as section on electricity –precautions). Check the industrial cable connectors before you connect the sweep auger. Make sure it is in good condition. Flexible cables must be checked for damage, especially where they enter the coupling housings. The correct electrical mating relies on aligning a raised rib or pin with a keyway slot located in either of the outer casings. If one of the outer casings is broken or the rib or pin is worn or damaged this must be repaired before you use it. Report this immediately to your supervisor.
15)Turn off power switch on sweep auger before you connect the cable connectors. Turn off power supply to receptacle (where applicable). Connect the cable connectors.
16)Turn on power supply to receptacle (where applicable). Turn on power switch on sweep auger.
Caution:All personnel must be behind the direction the sweep auger is travelling before you start the sweep auger. No one is to be within 2 metres of the sweep auger while it is running. The only exception is shoveling behind the auger where a .5 metre distance must be maintained.
17) Adjust your forward progress so that the grain being swept is flowing freely out the center of the bin floor.
18)Watch the angle of the grain (angle of repose) as you are progressing toward the storage pile. Do not allow the angle of the grain to become too steep. The steep angle has the potential to bury the auger or push the sweep auger into the personnel in the bin or silo once it lets go. If you are required to break up the angle of the grain, turn off power switch for the sweep auger before you cross the path of the auger or go into the 2 metre zone. This is to protect you from being swept in by flowing grain into the auger.
19)Shovel the grain between the bin or silo and the side of the sweep auger as you move forward. Throw the grain in front of the sweep auger as it is moving forward. Always maintain a .5 metre distance.
20)Shovel the grain that is left behind the sweep auger and throw it in front of the auger
as the sweep auger is moving forward. Always maintain the .5 metre distance.
21)Push the sweep auger forward using a push rod that allows you to be 2 metres awayfrom the sweep auger. If you are required to go into the 2 metre zone, the sweep auger must be turned off.
22)If leaving silo or bin for any reason always turn off all lighting, sweep auger and disconnect receptacles.
23)Make sure your supervisor is aware of you leaving.
24)Once silo or bin is complete, turn off power switch on sweep auger. Turn off power supply to receptacle (where applicable). Disconnect plugs, connectors and receptacle.
25)Remove all equipment as required and secure the door to prevent someone from entering.