Foreword and Acknowledgements - PDF Free Download

Foreword and Acknowledgements If your company has a policy of not allowing employees into bins with the sweep auger running we are not suggesting you change that policy. The information shared today will not prevent you from getting a citation from OSHA for having an employee in the bin with the sweep auger running. We are not back to business as usual!

Foreword and Acknowledgements The information being presented is not National OSHA policy but rather a look at the settlement of a case from the Area Office in Peoria, Illinois. We are deeply grateful for the commitment of financial resources and the work done by Western Grain Marketing and GROWMARK. We also wish to commend Tom Bielema and John Lee for their part in this settlement.

OSHA Bin Sweep Interpretation December 24, 2009

Sweep Auger Safety 2013 and Beyond

OSHA Violations Exposed employee Serious hazard Employer knowledge Feasible method to abate hazard

Appropriate Protection? How many people have done what this worker is doing?

21 Year old operating sweep auger by himself Kill switch 15 away

Bin Entry SAMS (Specific Abatement Measures)

1. 1910.272 Evaluate the bin for hazards before entry Tower is 65 tall

2. Lockout/Tagout Before Entry to Dig Out Sweep Auger Unload auger and grain entry points LOTO

3. Sump Grate/Guard in place & secured before sweep operation Picture #2 Picture #1 Picture #3

Secured Grate

Guarding Center Sumps

4. Employees operating a sweep Cannot walk on grain that poses an engulfment hazard. 1910.272

5. Sweep Auger Guards Sweep auger must have guard per manufacturers design The guard that came with sweep must be present Not acceptable

6. 1910.272 (g) A rescue trained and equipped observer, in accordance with 1910.272(g), must always be positioned outside the storage bin monitoring the activities of all workers inside the bin.

7. Entering Bin with energized sweep auger the employer must utilize engineering controls within the grain bin to prevent workers from coming into contact with the energized sweep auger. The use of only administrative controls without the use of an engineering control is not a sufficient means of worker protection. Acceptable engineering controls may include:

7a. 1910 subpart O Distance Between Protective Covering and Moving Parts of Equipment ½to 1 ½inches Maximum Vertical Opening (Horizontal Openings are Unlimited) ¼inches 1 ½to 2 ½inches ⅜ inches 2 ½to 3 ½inches ½inches 3 ½to 5 ½inches ⅝ inches 5 ½to 6 ½inches ¾ inches 6 ½to 7 ½inches ⅞ inches 7 ½to 12 ½inches 1 ¼inches 12 ½to 15 ½ inches 1 ½inches 15 ½to 17 ½ inches 1 ⅞ inches 17 ½to 31 ½ inches 2 ⅛ inches 31 ½ inches to less than 7 feet 6 inches More than 7 feet Protective covering not required

Sump Guard Elevated

7b. Sweep auger equipped with deadman switch or other device SASH (Sweep Auger Safety Handle) Developed by COOP in Ohio) Operator must be 7 from point of operation

Dead man switch

Double Dead Man Handle

Not a dead man switch This does not allow for sweep operation only when worker is in contact with device Ball hitch

No dead man switch

Push bar T-handle OK with dead-man

7c. Portable guard rails are allowed, must be 7 back or comply with Subpart O

Subpart O must be followed

Control Center Dead man foot switch

8. Auger must be provided with positive speed control or bin stop device

Bin Stop 40

9. Workers are prohibited from using their hands, legs other similar means to manipulate the sweep auger while it is operating.

10. Maintenance/adjustments LOTO

Remember the Days of Doing This ARE OVER!!!! Both of these tasks could lead to big $$ in citations

John Lee Grain & Feed Association of Illinois jlee@gfai.org 217 787 2417