Here is a list of common sense procedures for employees to follow when dumping various types of grain vehicles:
• Never walk in front of vehicles, even if they appear to be out of gear.
• Always make sure the driver sees you before you operate any equipment on the vehicle; if you cannot see the driver in his or her mirror, then the driver cannot see you.
• Always use consistent hand signals.
• Make intended/expected movements.
• Wear high-visibility clothing and appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Discourage cell phone use on the facility grounds.
Straight Truck Safety Procedures
• Communicate and stay in visual contact with the driver as much as possible.
• Be sure the truck bed is down when opening the end gate.
• Once the end gate is open, step to the left/driver side of the vehicle, where you are visible to the driver in his or her mirror; this also will prevent injuries, if there is a foreign object in the truck that may fall and hit you.
• Next, have the driver hoist the bed slowly to initiate grain flow into the pit.
• Remain at the side of the vehicle, while the grain is unloading.
• Advise employees of potential foreign objects in the grain that could cause serious injury to workers or damage to equipment.
Tandem Trucks
• Communicate and stay in visual contact as much as possible.
• When you dump a tandem truck with cargo doors, make sure the truck bed is down.
• Open the small gate to take some of the pressure off the center door.
• Then open the cargo doors.
• Move to the left/driver side of the truck, and have the driver hoist the bed slowly.
Gravity Wagons
• Communicate and stay in visual contact with the driver as much as possible.
• Protect your hands by wearing gloves; turning flywheels on gravity wagons easily can result in scraped knuckles.
• Stay on the side of the wagon where the grain is coming out; wagons have been known to tip to the side away from the chute.
Hopper-Bottom Semis
• Communicate and stay in visual contact with the driver as much as possible.
• Dumping hopper-bottom semis involves opening the hopper by turning a wheel on the side of the unit.
• Remember to face the vehicle squarely and to bend your knees in the process.
• This is an individual process that requires the operator to be comfortable when turning the crank/wheel.
Housekeeping
Another important safety concern in the dump pit is housekeeping. In particular, when dumping soybeans, be aware that walking on beans is like walking on little marbles.
Get into the habit of quickly sweeping stray beans into the dump pit after each load.
This Harvest Safety Reminder is published with permission from the Grain & Feed Association of Illinois' Safety, Health, and Environmental Services Update newsletter.
This Safety Tip of the Week is sponsored by: M&M Specialty Services, LLC
