Grain dust and housekeeping
What is the maximum allowable grain dust accumulation thickness at priority housekeeping areas before it must be cleaned up?
⅛ inch
Before entering a grain bin, employees must test the atmosphere for these two things.
Oxygen content and combustible gases/toxic agents
LOTO stands for these two words.
Lockout/Tagout
Bucket elevators must be equipped with this device to shut down if belt speed drops more than 20%.
A motion detection device, slow down device
OSHA requires grain facility employees to be trained at least this often.
Annually
True or False: Grain and product spills are considered fugitive grain dust accumulations under OSHA.
False
Employees are NOT permitted to enter a silo when this dangerous condition exists.
Bridging or grain funneling (engulfment hazard)
Who is the only person authorized to remove a lock or tag from equipment?
The employee who installed it
This monitoring device alerts employees when the belt is not tracking properly.
A belt alignment monitoring device, rub blocks, alignment sensors
Before contractors begin work at your facility, you must inform them of these two things.
Known fire/explosion hazards and the facility's safety rules
Name two examples of "priority housekeeping areas" in a grain elevator.
Legs/bucket elevators, areas around dryers, grain stream processing equipment, or dust collection systems
What is the minimum oxygen level required before an employee can safely enter a grain bin?
19.5%
Bucket elevators shall NOT be operated this way to free a choked leg.
Jogging
Bearings on bucket elevators should be mounted in this location to reduce fire and explosion risk.
Externally (outside the leg casing)
New employees must receive safety training at this point in their employment.
Prior to starting work
What written program is required by OSHA to establish the frequency and method of reducing grain dust accumulations?
A housekeeping program
Name three things that must happen before an employee enters a grain storage structure with mechanical equipment inside.
Deenergize, disconnect, and lockout/tagout all equipment
Name the four types of energy that must be controlled under LOTO at grain facilities.
Mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, Gravitational/Potential, Kinetic, Stored/Residual, Thermal
How often must mechanical and safety control equipment on bucket elevators be inspected, and what must be documented?
Regularly scheduled inspections; record must include date, inspector's name, and equipment identifier
Name three specific procedures employees must be trained on under OSHA's grain handling standard.
Hot work, LOTO, housekeeping/dust accumulation procedures, Permit-Required Confined Space Entry, Emergency Action Plans, Preventive Maintenance Procedures