When you work with a grain bin, one of the things you need to be careful of is grain entrapment. Did you know that you could be up to your waist in grain in as quickly as 10 seconds? And did you know that you could be completely entrapped in grain in as little as 25 seconds?

Entrapment scenario

Experts have noted these two scenarios that could lead to grain burying people in a bin:

• When grain is pulled out from the bottom of a bin, the grain shifts and forms a funnel that can trap a person.
• When grain forms a crust, it could create an air pocket. Grain entrapment could happen if a person breaks the crust and falls into the hole. The rest of the grain could shift to fill the uncovered space.

Statistics show that one to three people in Nebraska die each year due to grain entrapment. Many more people in other areas like Kansas City are at risk of this deadly situation. So how do you prevent such a situation from happening? Here are some ways you can do so.

Store grain properly

Proper management of stored grain is the best preventative measure. This makes sure that the grain you keep does not form a crust or go out of condition. This reduces the risk of grain entrapment. You will not have any reason to enter the bin to move things around.

Use tools

If the grain does form a crust, use tools to break it instead of letting a person enter the bin. A long rod is a good tool to prod and break the crust from outside the container. You can also use a grain vacuum.

Practice safety precautions

If you need to enter the bin, make sure that the worker has a safety harness for security and emergency measures.

For more questions or if you need to buy some safety equipment, contact KC Supply Company. We provide a wide range of monitoring and safety equipment that you need for your business.

In what is fast becoming an annual tradition, agricultural professionals and industry leaders join forces in support of Grain Bin Safety Week, to be held on the 16th to the 22nd of February, 2020.

Gear and Training for First Responders

This year’s celebration will feature a Nominate Your Fire Department Contest, running from the first day of the year all the way to the 30th of April. Grain rescue tubes and life-saving training will be awarded to nominated departments and will be vital in preventing accidents in grain bins and silos. This contest is sponsored by KC Supply, the National Education Center for Agricultural Safety, and several other allies in the crusade for safety.

To date, more than 2000 first responders have benefitted from the training and supplies provided by the contest, representing members of fire departments from more than 20 states. The skills and tools were put to good use in 2015 when a man was saved from a grain bin by the Westphalia Fire Department of Kansas.

 How To Participate

To nominate your local fire department, simply state in writing how your local fire department and community would benefit from having a grain rescue tube and grain bin entrapment training. Answers can be sent via email to agcontest[at]nicc[dot]edu, or directly to the event website. Answers can also be sent in via physical mail, addressed to NECAS, Grain Bin Safety Ag Contest, 8342 NICC Dr., Peosta, IA 52068.

To be valid, nominators must provide their name, job, contact number, email address, and home address, along with the name, phone number, and address of the emergency rescue team or fire department to be nominated.

To further spread the word about the importance of safety in and around grain bins and silos, promotional materials can be made available upon request. While national statistics for the relative safety of the agricultural profession in general, and grain storage units in particular, seems to be improving, death and serious injury remain real possibilities to be guarded against.

Environments that expose workers to potentially dangerous gases and explosive atmospheres require gas detection devices to ensure the workers’ safety. However, a lot of workers are very complacent about the maintenance of these monitors, thinking that their experience is going to keep them safe.

But relying on experience alone can have its drawbacks. For instance, many hazardous gases do not emit unique smells. Also, in some cases, by the time that workers smell gas, it is probably too late to contain the leak. 

It is advised that organizations practice proper protocol when it comes to the upkeep of these detection monitors. Here are some tips to ensure that they are working as they should: 

Set regular service intervals

As with other safety materials, gas detection devices come with the manufacturer’s recommendation of when they should be serviced. The monitors should also be calibrated frequently as a wrong reading could make the difference between a safe and hazardous environment. These devices can suffer from calibration drift, particularly when they are exposed to phosphates, and they are used in extreme environments that can compromise the integrity of the device. 

Keep them clean 

Every equipment should be checked daily for cleanliness, signs of damage, and power supply. If the monitors are dusty or continually exposed to dirt, then they could deteriorate, and this would affect their efficacy. Do not use alcohol-based or solvent-based cleaners as they can contaminate your instruments. 

Bump testing 

Workers should conduct bump testing on gas detection devices daily before they enter the environment. Bump testing exposes the device to a certified challenge gas so workers can see if the instrument is functioning as it should. Bump testing, together with regular calibration, ensure that employees are working at optimum environments. 

KC Supply Co understands that a lot of lives depend on the accuracy of these detection devices. If you are looking for industry-recommended monitors, look no further than KC Supply. They have the materials you need to keep your employees safe.

Respirators are essential, especially when you are working in hazardous environments that are littered with dust, hazardous fumes, gases, and vapors. They protect users by filtering out airborne particles, chemicals, and gases.

Given how important they are to employees, it is only proper that OSHA and other government bodies are mandating that respirators be properly maintained and cared for.

If you are using one religiously, here’s how you can keep your safety device in tiptop shape.

1. Don’t just put it on–inspect it. 

Carefully inspect your respirator every time before using it. Check if there are tears, cracks, or dirt in the material, and scrutinize if the face seal is still snug. Also, check your exhalation and inhalation valves, gaskets, and straps for any tell-tale signs of wear and tear. Your lenses should also be free from anything that can impair your vision.

2. Clean it.

Go with OSHA’s Mandatory Respirator Cleaning Procedures. This calls for removing and disassembling components and discarding or repairing any defective parts. Next, you are expected to wash the components in warm water with a cleaner or a mild detergent. This step is followed by a thorough rinsing of the product in clean, warm water. Then, the components must be hand-dried. You are then to reassemble the pieces and test that everything works as they should. It may seem like a cumbersome process, but remember that your respirator may be the only thing between you and hazardous chemicals.

3. Maintain it.

Make it a point to clean your respirators after every use, so that the dirt and grime wouldn’t be stuck for a long time. You should also store your respirator in a cool, dry place, and you can also use a storage bag for added protection. If you are storing your respirator, then remove the cartridge and store it in a container to avoid contamination. Finally, have a schedule as to when your cartridge should be changed, or when you should have a new filter.

KC Supply Co understands that it may be difficult to clean and maintain your respirators the first time around. But with proper guidance and practice, you can get the hang of things in no time.

Happy New Year! We hope you had a good holiday season because it’s back to business for us. We are proud to announce that KC Supply Co customers are in for a treat—we are looking forward to a stronger, better partnership in the next decade, and all the years to come. 

We have worked hard throughout the years to establish ourselves as an industry leader, and our three-decade strong history can attest to that. We have become one of the most trusted suppliers in bulk material conveying equipment and safety supplies. We also carry one of the biggest selections of Knappco and Civacon products in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Throughout the years, we know that many competitors are also providing the same products that we have. Our edge is we have always offered the best value for money for our customers, and that we have always considered them as valued business partners. 

In 2020, KC Supply Co customers can look forward to an even improved performance for service and quality. We are going to provide only the best-rated products that are known for their quality and durability. We also want to enhance our customer service even more. We are already going for 100% customer satisfaction, but we still want to improve that. If ever you are not pleased with anything, you can tell us, and we will do our best to correct it. 

At KC Supply Co, we pride ourselves on carrying only equipment that we would be using. Our products are also tested for safety, and they are equipment that we are proud to offer to our customers. With an even more stringent QC system in place, we are going to give you the products that you need, exactly when you need it.

Here is an improved and enhanced KC Supply Co. Happy New Year—and to our KC Supply Co customers, here’s to a more vibrant partnership between us. 

We at KC Supply Co feel that the holidays are best celebrated with our customers. After all, your support over the past 30 years is the very reason that we continue to exist. Without you, our company would just be one of the many that offer bulk material conveying equipment and safety supplies in Kansas City.

Thanks to you, we have become industry leaders in conveying and elevating equipment. We have one of the largest selections of Civacon and Knappco products, which are must-haves in the industry. We also work hard to provide the best products at the best prices. We learned that by treating our customers as valued business partners, we are going to keep growing the business together. Your continued support through the years is proof of this. 

We at KC Supply Co love the holidays as these days allow us to put the limelight on what’s really important to us: our customers. We have always said that we want to do our best with every transaction, and we are really proud of the relationship we have built with our patrons throughout the years. Our goal is to provide 100% customer satisfaction, and we hope that we have performed to your expectations. We are ready to take on more challenges moving forward. 

This holiday season, we pray that all our customers had the opportunity to enjoy and to relax. We hope you were able to take a break because you deserve it. After the holiday rush is over, we are still going to be here for you as your trusted supplier and partner. And we are going to do our best to continue to up-level our service so that we can continue to be the partner that you deserve. 

Once again, we at KC Supply Co wish you and your family a very happy holiday season. We wish you all the best.