Great Plains NTA2007 Operator Manual - Manual (Page 119)

Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc. Table of Contents Index Maintenance and Lubrication 115
2012-01-05 Table of Contents Index 166-372M
Problem Clean-Outs
For normal unloading of residual materials at completion
of planting, see “Unloading Materials” on page 113. For
normal clean-out of residue, see “Material Clean-Outs”
on page 114.
If, however, parking and storage recommendations have
not been followed, or material is defective, it is possible
to have hard-to-remove material present.
If the material fails to pass through the clean-out door,
take the following steps to remove it. Do not consider
entering the hopper until first completing these tasks.
Open the clean-out door.
Remove the strainer and evaluate the problem, for
example:
• If the problem is a single moveable large object, such
as a dead animal, fishing out from above may be the
solution.
• If the problem is congealed materials, scoop out a
sample from above and see if the mass dissolves in
water. If so, and there is a small amount of the material
involved, rinsing, or rinsing and pumping the hopper
from above may be the solution.
For small amounts of residual materials, poking with a
long pole may suffice to push it through the clean-out.
If poking doesn’t produce satisfactory results, and you
intend to try wash-out, poke at least one hole down to the
meter clean-out, so that water can flow out.
If wash-out is contemplated, start by introducing a small
amount of water, and make sure that it appears at the
clean-out within 15 minutes. If not, you will just be adding
water to the problem. The hopper is not designed to hold
water at full capacity. Add no more water.
Hopper Entry
Normal use of the hopper and routine maintenance do
not require entry.
The hopper vent tube structure includes features to aid
emergency egress. It is not intended for routine entry.
However, do not remove the vent tube structure, as it is
required for pressure-balancing the air space above the
material.
Depending on their use, the NTA607 or NTA2007
material hoppers may be or become “permit-required
confined spaces” under U.S. OSHA regulations (29 CFR
1910.146) and similar regulations, statutes, insurance
agreements and local business policy. A written policy
and permitting process may be required for any hopper
entry.
Rapid Suffocation Hazard:
Encrusted grain may be loose and flowing beneath the crust.
Any hollow spaces are highly likely to have insufficient oxygen
and/or toxic gases from microbial action. Falling through a
crust in either case can result in death in a matter of seconds.
Never enter a hopper to dislodge a crust or bridge.
▲ A hopper that is full or merely appears full can be an
entrapment hazard. You can sink entirely into the grain, or
into a void, and suffocate in a matter of seconds. Grain
bridges and crusts are especially dangerous.
▲ You can be overcome by hazardous fumes very quickly even
in an empty hopper with the lid open.
▲ A partially full hopper, even with no bridging present, is a
suffocation risk.
Oxygen levels may be insufficient and/or
dust levels may be too high for breathing.
▲ Do not enter a hopper for loading material.
▲ Do not enter a hopper for unloading material.
▲ Do not enter a hopper for routine cleaning.
▲ Do not enter a hopper for any meter maintenance.
▲ Never enter a hopper without at least one trained and
equipped attendant present.
▲ Never enter a hopper for any reason unless you fully
comply with applicable laws, regulations, rules,
agreements, and the instructions in this section. Where
applicable laws, regulations, rules, agreements contradict
an instruction below, do not follow that instruction.