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To understand the risks of a confined space and what working in one will entail, personnel must first understand what a confined space is and why it matters.

A confined space is defined as an area with limited openings for entry and exit, with an environment that is not conducive or unfavorable towards good ventilation. Employees are not expected to remain in the space continuously or for long-term occupancy.

Typically, a person can fit into space, but there is still limited egress and entry. It’s not an area specifically designed to work in, and it’s against OSHA standards to hold workers within one for prolonged periods. Some confined spaces can be dangerous—there is the potential for workers to suffocate if it contains hazardous fumes or material that could engulf the worker.

What are good examples of a confined space?

Utility tunnels, septic tanks, grain bins, sewage tunnels, underground vaults, storage tanks, and other similar environments are good examples of confined spaces. While a worker may need to go in there to do some maintenance or make adjustments, workers should never be in them for prolonged periods and get out as soon as possible. Some confined spaces may even need specific OSHA-required permits or regulations.

What are the dangers in a confined space?

Suffocation, entrapment, oxygen deficiency, or the presence of flammable and explosive atmospheres are just some of the high risks involved with working in a confined space.

Furthermore, if the space contains flowing liquid or free-flowing solids (storage tanks and grain bins are good examples), the material can flow into the space and cause the worker within it to drown. Another significant risk is excessive heat. The temperature within a confined space could rise significantly, increasing the risk of heatstroke or cause a worker to collapse within the confined space. It would then be extremely difficult or impossible to extract them from the space.

Working in confined spaces or needing to go into one is inevitable in many industrial industries. But by understanding what the area is and the dangers it poses, workers can keep safety protocols in mind and remember why they need to abide by them.

KC Supply takes worker safety seriously, especially in confined spaces. See more safety equipment and information for industrial workers in KC Supply.

A tripod hoist’s utility and importance shouldn’t be underestimated, especially in a construction or industrial setting. This is precisely why KC Supply has chosen to spotlight this unique tool that many laypeople may not have even seen or heard of before.

What is a Tripod Hoist?

Tripod cranes, lifting hoists, and other similar hoists serve a particular purpose: they act as a stand and a means of lowering or elevate personnel who are going into confined spaces. There are three standard sizes of Lisbon Hoist in the market today. All of these hoists are renowned for their ease of use and lightweight system. They are excellent for use in bins or silos and manholes and other confined spaces that need personnel access.

• Mast-Supported Workbasket – This particular workbasket is best used with the Lisbon Powered Quad Pod system. The basket itself can carry up to 600 pounds and can even function for underwater use. The swing gate design enables personnel to enter and exit quickly.
• Manual Tripod Hoist – The manual tripod hoist is one of the most famous pieces of equipment used for industrial access to confined spaces. The Lisbon manual hoist is lightweight and portable but durable enough to carry 300 pounds of weight. It’s also incredibly flexible, with an adjustable height that makes it suitable for various uses and entry spaces.
• Powered Tripod Hoist – Finally, the powered tripod hoist (and its fellow quadpod hoist) is state-of-the-art equipment for lowering personnel into silos, manholes, and other tight spaces. The system has a sophisticated air- or electric-powered spirit hoist, a frame, wire winder, and wire rope. It even comes with optional add-on attachments such as round baskets. With its strength and flexibility, it’s useful for a variety of industrial and refinery applications.

These hoists are the most highly effective and safe method of transporting and carrying personnel for enclosed-space access. With the proper handling and use, they ensure that work continues on the job site without a hitch.

KC Supply believes in using the right tools and equipment for the job. Visit KC Supply to learn more about industrial and refinery equipment.

A good wear-resistant liner can ensure that a significant piece of handling or manufacturing equipment can provide top-notch performance for years to come. These liners ensure that conveyor belts continue to run at their peak, creating a seamless, efficient process. There are many liners for conveyor belts, and manufacturers need to identify what their system needs to get that perfect match. 

Different Types of Abrasions and Liners 

You need the right tool for the job, and liners are no different. There are four different types: 

• AR Liner – Also called “abrasion resistant,” this type is the most ideal for machinery that handles abrasive material. 
• Ultra-High-Molecular-Weight Polyethylene – Known as UHMWPE or UHMW, this is a form of wear-resistant-liner that can handle acidic and abrasive material. 
• Stainless Steel – If the belt is handling acidic or abrasive material, a stainless-steel liner is ideal. 
• Galvanized Coating – If the material is not abrasive but acidic, this is the liner for you. 

Why do liners wear off? 

Abrasion is a nightmare for any machine. The long exposure to corrosive rubbing, grinding, and wearing will eventually cause the machine to lose efficiency and even cause many potential machine issues. If the material that the machine is handling is abrasive, find out if it deals with high-stress and low stress. Impact abrasion is another cause of wear when the abrasive material strikes a surface. Therefore, the wear’s cause is just as important when considering what type of liner to purchase. 

The wear-resistant liners protect the machines from damage. AR liners, in particular, are significant in defending against abrasive materials. It’s hard and resists cutting and penetration. But if the material your machine is handling is both abrasive and corrosive, you might want to choose UHMW or stainless-steel liners themselves. Be advised, however, that the latter may not last as long as others. 

Carefully gauge your materials, equipment, and needs to select the right liner for the job. 

KC Supply believes in getting the right equipment to ensure that machines work at full efficiency for as long as possible. Visit KC Supply to learn more. 

Grain handling can be a precarious business, as people in the agricultural industry well know. There are various hazards and dangers in handling, and accidents have been significant (and fatal) enough that OSHA has its section for the matter. Here’s what you need to know to get started on grain safety. 

Common Hazards 

The most common hazards involving grain include fires, explosions, falls, entrapment and suffocation, and even crushing. This can come from a variety of reasons. 

Suffocation  

Sometimes, grain bins become clogged up, requiring personnel to enter the bin and clear the blockage from the pipes so that the grain may flow freely again. But during the process of grain handling, the worker can get trapped within the bin and unable to climb out, leading to suffocation. Grain acts like quicksand—it could take very little time before a worker becomes engulfed and suffocated. 

Explosions  

Grain dust is extremely flammable and highly combustible. When ignited, fire spreads rapidly. A grain bin can trigger a tremendous explosion, causing severe damage to property and personnel near it. No incendiaries must be anywhere near a grain bin to reduce the risks. 

Falls 

Most grain bins’ height can lead to potential falls when workers climb on top to do maintenance work or grain handling. It’s critical to install safety handrails and other similar equipment around walking or climbing surfaces to prevent workers from slipping and plunging. 

Safety Reminders 

OSHA recommends companies that handle grain should keep all safety protocols and reminders in place. Powered equipment should be turned off and locked when not in use, and no one should be near or standing on moving grain lest they get buried in it. Body harnesses are highly recommended when doing grain handling that involves direct contact—a properly secured harness can save a life by helping others to yank out anyone that gets caught in the moving grain. 

By keeping these hazards and safety precautions in mind, workers can avoid many common grain-handling hazards. 

KC Supply specializes in providing all kinds of equipment, including safety equipment, for agricultural purposes. Visit KC Supply to find out more. 

With the new Manway products available, KC Supply Co is often asked how to choose the right cover that fits a specific storage tank or need. Finding the correct product for the proper tank or purpose is critical—mismatching tanks and covers could result in hazardous and costly accidents during the transport, loading, and unloading of the storage tanks’ contents. It could cause spills or depressurization, causing untold damage.

The Process is the Key

When trying to choose a tank cover, the critical first step is to consider the entire process or procedure. Lay down a flow chart of what the material to be put into the storage tank is, the conditions around it, and how it gets loaded and unloaded. Then you can understand what Manway cover is needed.

• Know your chemical: What kind of chemical is getting stored in the tank? This is a highly significant factor as the various chemicals and substances that get transported can vary significantly regarding what conditions are needed to store them. Storing water is vastly different from storing crude oil or chemicals.
• Tank filling procedure: How a tank is filled with the chemical is also essential. Various covers can adapt to filling the tank through a pump, gravity, or pneumatic fill.
• Access requirements: Finally, you need to specify how you will access the substance in the tank. Manway covers come in a variety of types that allow for different levels of accessibility. Does the tank need to be airtight? Does it need to be cleaned now and again? Does it need built-in venting or proper pressurization?

By knowing your substance and storage needs, you can choose the most appropriate Manway cover for your storage tank. Furthermore, it gives you peace of mind knowing that not only will the storage tank be secured as needed, but it also adheres to the highest level of safety to ensure years of efficient work.

You need the right tools and parts for the right job to ensure efficiency and safety. Visit KC Supply Co to learn more about state-of-the-art parts and equipment.

KC Supply Co joins the rest of the industry in holding the all-important Grain Bin Safety Week for 2021. This week-long event is held every year and emphasizes grain bins, safety protocol, accident prevention, and other methods and procedures that ensure the protection of every worker around the grain bins.

The Major Statistics

Grain bin safety seems inconsequential in the large scheme of processing. But the truth is that it’s a serious concern for any industry and workers who work around the bins. The statistics on grain bin accidents are staggering. In 2018 to 2019, the reports of grain entrapments throughout the United States rose tremendously, going up to 27%. The number of deaths caused by grain entrapments rose to a staggering 53%.

The Real Dangers

Grain Bin Safety Week seeks to emphasize the dangers of working around grain bins. Sometimes, there is a necessity to enter the bins to dislodge clumps or chunks of built-up grain that may prevent it from flowing freely. But the risk is extreme: even someone standing still at the bin could find themselves trapped or engulfed in settled grain. And once they’re trapped, it’s almost impossible to extricate them from this position. Safety protocols must be put into place to prevent this from happening.

The Movement

This year, Nationwide continues to work with industry leaders to continue protecting agricultural workers from grain bin accidents. For Grain Bin Safety Week, they are once again running the Nominate Your Fire Department Contest, which seeks to equip local fire departments with valuable grain rescue tubes as well as hands-on training that give first responders the critical knowledge to save trapped workers.

Over 5,000 nominations, tubes, and training sessions have been provided to fire departments across the United States throughout the years, enabling them to save more lives. With everyone’s help and support, more tubes and training can get provided, saving even more workers from entrapment in grain bins.

KC Supply Co puts worker safety at the forefront. Visit KC Supply to find more essential safety products for various industries.