Safety at grain terminals

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Grain Dust Explosion
……Ignorance is not Bliss
Dust Explosion of Wheat DustDust Explosion of Wheat Dust

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What Causes Dust Explosion
1. Dust Cloud at Particular Concentration
2. A Minor Spark
3. Source of Oxygen

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Possible Locations of Dust Cloud
 Feed Hoppers at Tipper Area
 Feed Tower
 Tunnels
 Process Tower
 Inside Silo or Hopper
 Bag Filter
 High Pressure Water Spray

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Sources of Spark
1. Metal to Metal Contact
2. Direct Flame
3. Batteries
4. Grain Spoilage Inside Silo
5. Online Maintenance Work
6. Ordinary Lighting
7. Electric Panels

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Spark Sources:
1. Metal to Metal Contact
 Broken Roller / Idler Bearings
 Hammering Spouts
 Poking with Iron Rods
 Shoes with Iron Studs
 Elevator Buckets Touching Casing
 Mis-aligned Belts
 Screw Conveyor scroll touching casing
 Anything similar to above

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Spark Sources:
2. Direct Flame
 Cigarretes and Bidis
 Lighting Matches
 Lighting Gas Lighters
 Welding Works
 Gas Cutting Works

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Spark Sources:
3. Batteries
 All lithium Batteries if dropped from a
certain height produces spark hence
must not be allowed. Examples are;
 Cell phone batteries
 Camera Batteries
 Video Recorder Batteries
 Laptop Batteries

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Spark Sources:
4. Grain Spoilage Inside Silo
 Water leakage inside silo results in infestation,
mold growth, fermentation etc. of Grain. This
grain spoilage result in making a lump of grain
mass. This lump size keeps on increasing
gradually and inside at the center temperature
keeps on increasing and may become very-
very hot. When we start discharge from Silo
this grain mass breaks and may result in
Spark. Since while discharging silo inside is full
of inflammable dust, fire immediately starts
and there may be a explosion

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Spark Sources:
5. Online Maintenance Works
 Online Maintenance works must never
be attempted in Grain Terminal
 No Cutting and No Welding
 No hammering and no Poking with
Iron Bars
 Any spark or flame may result in
either fire or explosion

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Spark Sources:
6. Ordinary Lights
 Only explosion proof lighting should
be used at all Dust Prone Areas
 Non-explosion Proof Lights may
generate spark which may lead to
explosion
 Care should be taken while doing
maintenance on these lights

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Spark Sources:
7. Electric Panels
 Electric Panels could be a source of
spark if there are any loose
connections
 Electric Panels must not be located in
Dust Prone Areas if they do not have
proper protection

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Major Safety Checks at Different
Areas
 Elevators
 Check for Broken or Damaged Bearing
 Check for Damaged Steel Bucket
 Check for Loose Elevator Steel Bucket
 Check Elevator Belt Misalignment
 Check that Explosion vent is properly
installed and working

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Major Safety Checks at Different
Areas
 Drag Chain Conveyors
 Check for Broken or Damaged Bearing
 Check for any Damaged Conveyor flights
 Check for Loose Conveyor Center Guide

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Major Safety Checks at Different
Areas
 Screw Conveyors
 Check for Broken or Damaged Bearing
 Check for Damaged Hanger Bearing
 Check for Screw (Scroll) Touching Casing
 Check for Intactness of Scroll welding
with Hollow Shaft
 Check for any Iron Piece entrapped
inside Screw Conveyor

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Major Safety Checks at Different
Areas
 In Tunnels and Dust Prone Areas
 Broken Roller / Idler Bearings
 Non-Flame Proof Lights
 Lithium Battery e.g. cell phone Batteries
 Hammering Spouts
 Poking with Iron Rods
 Matches and Cigarettes
 Shoes with Iron Studs

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Major Safety Checks at Different
Areas
 Dust Filters
 Check if all the filter bags are properly
earthed
 Check that Explosion vents are properly
installed and working
 Check that no manhole is open
 Check that there is no dust leakage

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Major Safety Checks at Different
Areas
 Usage of High Pressure Water
 High Pressure Water results in
generation of lot of dust thus increasing
the dust concentration to a point where
it may require a minor spark to explode
 This happen mainly in enclosed spaces
hence High Pressure water usage must
be restricted and carefully used

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Dust Explosion – Awareness Works
Dust Explosion can never happen if
proper care it taken while operating
and maintaining the facility.
General Awareness of Dust Explosion
among operating and maintaining
staff can avoid Dust Explosion for
ever
BE SAFE….SAFETY FIRST