The 5 main risks associated with storage
• Burial; • Fire and explosion; • Falls from heights; • Respiratory poisoning; • Personal injury and amputation.
Grain dust explosions have serious consequences, leading to significant property damage and even loss of life. In fact, there is an average of 10 major explosions a year in the United States alone.
Be warned: grain dust is highly explosive! When the concentration of air and particles is in the range of 0.050 to 0.150 kg per cubic meter, the presence of an ignition source such as a hot ball bearing, engine overheating or the collision of metal parts will be sufficient to create an explosion.
Bear in mind that the greater the volume of grain you stir, the more dust you accumulate, the greater is the risk of an explosion. For some of you, it's only a matter of time before you fall victim to such an incident.
Preventing the risks With silos
Preventing this risk means, first and foremost, rigorous dust control, monitoring of your electrical equipment and proper preventive maintenance. Keeping your installations clean is also a question of safety.
In conclusion, to reduce overall risk, employee training on the specific hazards around silos is crucial. Keep in mind that good drying and storage practices can also reduce your exposure to risk.
Before the danger catches up with you, put clear safety procedures in place to protect everyone who visits your grain center.
Want to find out more about the various risks surrounding grain silos? Read more on the agrilog blog.
Mathieu Phaneuf President & grain drying and storage expert
