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An emergency action plan (EAP) is a critical component of any safety system in an industrial plant. It’s the protocol for just about any establishment to have such a plan in case of accidents, emergencies, or high-danger situations. But in industrial settings, where there is more risk and a higher chance of serious accidents, it’s even more essential for companies to develop an EAP to ensure that everyone involved remains safe.

What is an EAP?

As defined by OSHA, an emergency action plan “covers designated actions employers and employees must take to ensure employee safety from fire and other emergencies.” While not every employer is mandated by law to create such a plan, it remains in everyone’s best interests to develop an EAP to be prepared for any situation or incident.

How do you make one?

Your emergency action plan needs to be in writing. Every employee must be briefed or given a copy of the plan for review. In case a company less than ten employees, employers may communicate this plan verbally to them.

However, the EAP needs to have fire and emergency reporting procedures as well as emergency evacuation procedures. Remember that it needs to have evacuation types and assigned exit routes that employees can proceed to. The plan must also clearly demarcate floor maps that indicate where the emergency exits are. For power plants, water plants, and other major infrastructures, The EAP must also include procedures on how to shut systems down in case of emergency.

Furthermore, the emergency action plan needs to include an employee alarm system with a distinctive alarm that will alert all employees that an emergency is taking place. They must proceed with emergency procedures.

KC Supply reminds all employers with an EAP that any changes and individual employee responsibilities regarding the plans must get communicated to all employees covered by it. This makes sure that everyone, no matter what happens, knows what to do.

Workplace safety should be a major priority of any employer. Visit KC Supply to learn more vital information about workplace safety and procedures.

Emergency planning and preparing for untoward incidences is part of workplace safety. For many companies, especially industrial ones, having the right plan and preparedness for accidents or emergencies could mean life or death. To protect both employers and employees alike, companies must carefully draft plans and procedures for such incidents.

Critical Emergency Planning Reminders

1. Brainstorm for scenarios. What could potentially go wrong in the workplace? What are situations that could result in a worst-case scenario? Brainstorming these ideas and conditions can help your company plan what to do or what equipment to prepare in anticipation of them. These could include: 

• Natural disasters 
• Fire 
• Toxic chemicals or gases
• Civil disturbance
• Explosions 
• Bodily harm

2. Create an emergency action plan. OSHA recommends that workplaces create an emergency action plan or EAP to prepare for these emergencies. At the minimum, there must be a reporting procedure, an alarm system, and evacuation policies and procedures involved. As a part of emergency planning, every employee the plan covers needs to be briefed on these procedures.

3. Install and purchase emergency equipment. Equipment such as fire extinguishers, oxygen tanks and masks, first aid kits, and other related needs concerning any expected scenarios must remain stocked in the building. Employees or staff with responsibilities in the EAP need to access these items when needed readily.

4. Train employees in medical emergency procedures. Instill basic first aid knowledge in your employees. You also want to identify which employees know CPR or have training for seizures if necessary.

5. Protect business assets. Emergency planning may include procedures on how to shut down or lock down the systems and machines. It prevents further damage from spreading and protects business assets throughout the company in these situations.

KC Supply emphasizes that emergency planning is more than just a necessary chore for any industrial company. It may make a world of difference against potentially millions of dollars in damages. And it could mean the difference between life and death.

KC Supply encourages industrial companies to equip proper safety and emergency equipment to avoid and address workplace accidents. Visit KC Supply to learn more.

Harvest safety is of utmost importance as the season begins. It’s the only surefire way to ensure that a harvest is a productive, fruitful, and uneventful one. Harvesting brings out the use of more equipment and machinery and more personnel on-site actively doing agricultural processes. There is a higher likelihood of incidents and accidents, and it remains in every farmer’s best interest to double-check any safety precautions involved in the different processes.

1. Remind all personnel to be mindful when approaching harvest equipment, even when they thinkit’s shut off. Ensure that they come forward from the front and gain eye contact with the machine’s operator before approaching.
2. Do not stay near or approach machinery when it’s running unguarded. For harvest safety, always pay attention to the machine’s movement and know where it is.
3. Do not go into any joints or pinch points in the equipment where visibility is limited. Make sure you’re where the operator can see you at all times.
4. Train (or re-train) all personnel who will be handling the harvesting equipment. Ignorance or lack of training is a significant source of incorrect equipment operation, leading to accidents.
5. Be prepared. Know what everyone is supposed to do for each step and what to do in case of incidents. Come up with checklists and emergency plans for harvest safety.
6. Keep young children away from the harvest area. If it’s completely unavoidable to have them near the perimeter, know where they are at all times.
7. Do not overexert your physical capability. Exhaustion and fatigue make you prone to human error and mistakes, leading to accidents.
8. Brush up and practice grain bin safety. At least 12 people die every year in grain bins, getting suffocated inside.
9. Do not attempt to fix or repair any piece of equipment or machinery if it breaks down or stops working in the middle of the harvest. Always make sure that the machine is off.
10. Wear well-fitting clothing that gives you the ease of movement. This keeps your actions fast, efficient and keeps clothes out of risk of getting tangled in anything.

By keeping these great harvest safety reminders at the forefront of your endeavor, any harvest should go as smoothly as possible with excellent yields and few incidents.

KC Supply Co takes workplace safety seriously, especially in the agricultural industry. Visit our website to learn more about guidelines and safety reminders.

The goal of plant maintenance is simple: to keep the business running. A manufacturing, agricultural, or industrial company simply cannot continue doing its work for the day with a faulty plant with more than one issue going around. And if good plant maintenance doesn’t get upheld, the business won’t last very long either.

A well-oiled machine

The saying “a well-oiled machine” refers to everything working perfectly. This is the primary benefit of regular plant maintenance. Through careful and thorough plant maintenance, companies can ensure continuous, efficient production throughout their factory lines. Machines that can run smoothly at their total capacity are incredibly productive, and there won’t be any fear of downtime.

Time is money

The faster things get done, the more can get done during the day. And with an efficient, problem-free line of equipment, production rates can even improve, bringing more profits. Furthermore, regular plant maintenance saves a lot of repair money in the long run. Something small that seems “too troublesome” to repair now can cause a more significant breakdown later, leading to even higher operational costs after repairs.

Minimize hazards and workplace accidents

Finally, regular plant maintenance goes a long way in reducing workplace hazards. Any potentially dangerous occurrences (such as machines breaking down or malfunctioning, broken or slippery railings, and walkways, etc.) will get flagged ahead of time or prevented entirely. It reduces the likelihood of personnel and workers getting hurt.

Room for improvement

During inspections, companies may find that there are still areas where companies can make upgrades and improvements as well. Critical upgrades to better machinery or streamlining efficiency improve production and even create a higher quality product. It leads to higher quality service from the company all around.

Plant maintenance may seem like a “chore,” especially when it’s a regular occurrence. But what seems like something small now might grow into something else later. It’s better to have regular maintenance and nip any problems in the bud, and keep the production going as smoothly as possible every day.

Plant maintenance is part of overall safety and efficiency. Visit KC Supply to learn more about vital safety tips and efficiency ideas.

When fighting the dangers of combustible dust, OSHA Housekeeping Requirements have to be at the forefront of every industrial property owner’s mind. They’re there for a reason: the requirements aim to reduce significantly the risks of combustible dust igniting the property, causing severe structural damage, and potentially injuring personnel.

Creating a Combustible Dust Housekeeping Program

The primary responsibility of the employers and property owners is to determine a housekeeping program for their whole company. There must be clear boundaries on the areas, rooms, and facilities where combustible dust is produced and locations where the dust might accumulate. The housekeeping program’s goal is to eliminate the dangers of combustible dust.

Furthermore, according to OSHA Housekeeping Requirements, the programs that employers create must include how to reduce the dust accumulations on areas where they are wont to, such as floors, equipment, and many of the exposed surfaces.

The Components

A good housekeeping program should have written instructions, a clearly outlined frequency of inspections and cleaning, and the cleaning methods. It also includes dealing with spills and leaks and details of the equipment used to control the dust.

The program must identify the areas where housekeeping was of utmost priority. These involve grain elevators and the other regions with potential ignition.

The methods for removing grain spills (which cause clouds of combustible dust) must also get discussed.

It’s critical for the program to clean and inspect the aforementioned priority areas, with OSHA Housekeeping Requirements explicitly saying that companies must do these cleaning sessions daily.

Finally, the company must generate reports about any spills and leaks and resolve any issues that arise. The problems or incidents must get resolved before operations can resume.

By following these guidelines in creating a good housekeeping program that protects property and personnel from combustible dust risks, operations can continue smoothly and with as little risk as possible.

KC Supply fervently believes in putting the safety of industrial personnel at the utmost priority. Visit KC Supply to find out more about regulations that keep people safe and operations moving smoothly.

The risk of combustible dust in any industrial setting could not be overstated. Situations that may seem safe and harmless to the untrained or inexperienced eye could rapidly escalate into a devastating accident with untold property damage and harm to personnel.

An NFPA fact sheet that discusses Industrial and Manufacturing Property Structure Fires within the United States has found that approximately 10,500 structure fires happen in industrial properties in 2003-2009 alone. Knowing the ways to prevent combustible dust explosions can save lives.

• Remember the three elements for a fire.

Avoiding fire at all costs is the most critical reminder of all. Knowing the three ingredients that start a fire can effectively prevent it. A fire needs fuel, heat (ignition source), and oxygen. Two out of the three are already in a combustible dust area: the fuel (dust) and oxygen. In a place where there is plenty of dust or has an activity that creates plenty of dust, there must be no means of ignition, and temperatures must not go too high.

• A dust collector is a must.

Prevent the “fuel” part of the equation from collecting by making use of a dust collector. With suitable vacuum systems or dust collectors, the potentially combustible dust is filtered out of the air and prevents buildup. This highly reduces the risk of combustion.

• Install spark detection and suppression systems.

A single spark could cause a tremendous fire with combustible dust in the air. Spark detection and suppression systems prevent this risk. Even a spark caused by static electricity from clothes or hair could be dangerous.

• Use specialized cleaning methods.

Suppose an ignition source is present within the work area where combustible dust is present. In that case, it’s essential to use specialized cleaning methods and systems that prevent dust from getting disturbed and therefore form clouds into the air.

• Regular inspections are necessary.

It’s not just inspecting for dust gathering at corners or nooks that may go overlooked. It’s also critical to inspect spark detection systems, suppression systems, dust collectors, and all the safety protocols that all personnel should follow. Regular checks and inspections ensure that the vital systems are in good working order and everyone is adhering to protective regulations.

Never underestimate the risks of combustible dust. It’s vital to keep in mind that it only takes one spark in a cloud of dust to create a fire or an explosion. Thus, it’s critical to be vigilant of these reminders and keep everyone in the workplace safe.

Learn more about various protective systems that can keep your industrial property safe from combustible dust accidents by visiting KC Supply.

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.