Preventative Maintenance

A lack of knowledge on how the equipment operates and how to conduct the appropriate maintenance can lead to near misses and injuries. Lack of preventative maintenance can also have a direct effect on bin entry.  Job hazard analysis,  regular maintenance, equipment inspections and training on proper equipment operation can help workers recognize and avoid hazards.

A wide range of activities and training on this topic can be done such as:

• Inspect and test safety equipment and critical safety devices – Does everyone know how to properly clean, store, and inspect their safety equipment such as harnesses, lifelines, carabiners, hard hats, etc.?
• Conduct thorough inspections on portable and fixed ladders, stairs, and railings and set a repair schedule.
• Gather your employees and conduct job hazard analysis in those areas where you are seeing near misses and minor injuries to prevent a serious injury.
• Conduct equipment inspections. Educate employees on what to look for in addition to equipment specific inspections. Do visual inspections of motors, torque arms, motor mounts, gearbox, guarding, conduits, flex conduits/fittings, hazmon cabling, etc. Take note of missing or broken guards and take the equipment out of service until the guards are properly fixed.
• Inspect conveyors. Inspect belts for wear, proper tension and alignment, drums, bearings, shafts, etc. Check the drag conveyors for chain damage, proper tension and broken/damaged paddles, etc. Talk about speed monitors, safety swtiches, and reducing build-up/clogs.
• Inspect elevator legs. Educate employees about the importance of proper belt alignment, the types of splices, the different types of heat and rub sensors and their placement, etc. Demonstrate how to properly use a grease gun, change oil, lubricate bearings, check the tension on a v-belt and/or replace a v-belt.
• Discuss how to properly clean, inspect, and make repairs on a bin once it is empty to prepare it for the the next load.

Featured Training

Presenter – John Lee!

John Lee is the Director of the Safety-Health-Environmental Services (SHES) program for the Grain and Feed Association of Illinois (GFAI) since 1997. The SHES program is a consulting and educational program for GFAI members serving small private grain elevators, cooperative elevators and large global grain companies. John works with state and federal OSHA, EPA, and DOT offices for the benefit of the grain and feed industry in Illinois. He conducts employee safety training, assists members in maintaining safety programs, conducts safety audits and visible emissions tests, and assists members with OSHA compliance and investigations. John has initated Alliance agreements with OSHA region 5 and assisted OSHA with investigator training for the local  LEP for grain operations. He worked extensively with the Asmark Institute to design and build the grain training center and programs at the Agricenter in Bloomington, Illinois. He has developed several grain safety curriculum modules and also written and directed several safety videos.   Additionally, John conducts safety programs for area grade schools.  John trains for GFAI, the Agricenter, and GHSC. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Safety from Illinois State University and previously worked as a Loss Control Representative for Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance.