incidents involing Silos PN 807 Flashcards
CM (28 cards)
Define Silo
A container or tower, often cylindrical in shape, used for storage of silage,grain powders,pellets or crops
Define silage
Any crop harvested while green for fooder and kept succulent by partial fermentation in a silo
Name 8 Hazards that can be encountered at incidents in silos?
Explosion- Entrapment in machinery- Falling from height- Silo contents- Fire- Construction Manual Handling- Oxygen limiting Silos. 3:1
Can personal enter a silo?
NO. Unless there is an immediate threat of serious injury or life loss. 6:6
What level of line ops should be implemented?
Level 2
What is the minimum lead role entering into silo
CM 6:9
If flame is evident at the top of the silo this may indicate?
That the fire is not deep seated and it may be extinguished by the application of a suitable extinguishing medium to the affected area. 6.22 g
Define Explosion
many of the contents stored within a silo produce a fine dust. When a heat source is put to this dust it can cause a explosion. Also other contents produce flammable gasses. These gasses at the right mixture can also cause an explosion.
Define Entrapment in machinery
Silos usually have machinery which often includes augers, screw feeders, conveyer belts, paddles, suction piping, and mixing blades both externally and internally. These create a risk of severe injury or death.
Define Falling from height
some silos exceed 30 metres. Personnel and/or equipment could fall inside or outside of the silo. Fixed external ladders may not be maintained in a useable condition or may be slippery.
Define Silo contents
the nature of the goods stored within silos may create a toxic, flammable, oxygen deficient or explosive atmosphere. Opening up a hatch or door may create an explosive mixture.
The contents may act in a “fluid” manner and may not be weight bearing. Firefighters should also be aware of the contents “bridging”, this is a phenomenon whereby a seemingly solid material is only a bridge over a void where the contents have collapsed or have been emptied from below. Both of these could result in a Firefighter becoming entrapped resulting.
Define Fire
When involved in a fire or suspected fire, opening any doors or hatches could result in a heat blast, injuring personnel that are in direct line of the opening.
Define Construction
The nature of construction makes access/egress from silos extremely limited and natural light and ventilation virtually non-existent. Working in restricted spaces creates a risk of physiological and psychological stress.
Define Manual handling
the rescue of casualties and the movement of equipment within a confined space increases the risk of muscular-skeletal injuries.
Define Oxygen limiting silos
(h) Oxygen limiting silos or controlled atmosphere silos have a greater risk of backdraught or explosion when they are involved in a fire.
- 2 Station/watch managers should be aware that many large building sites use silos to store building materials and they need to ensure that all structures incorporating silos within their stations ground are visited, and a 7(2) d carried out and information gathered in accordance with Policy
- 3 Particular attention should be paid to the following:
(a) Contact information for site engineer or other responsible person for information and plans.
(b) Type of silo, contents and associated hazards, such as machinery.
(c) Access and egress for pumping and specialist appliances, assessing hard standing, height clearance, restrictions or obstructions.
(d) Machinery/power isolation points.
(e) Water supplies, suppression systems or fixed installations for firefighting.
(f) Specialist equipment on site.
(g) Entry, exit points into silo.
4:7 Under no Circumstances should?
crews enter a working silo or work beneath the silo during training.
5:1 The incident commander must check for?
for all available hazard signage on entrance to the site, those displayed on the silo and any surrounding risks.
6.1 The IC should remain at
ground level, unless pre-planning identifies a more suitable location.
6.5 Consider the requirement for additional resources including:
(a) Fire Rescue Units (FRU), for specialist line rescue, cutting/lifting equipment and air monitoring equipment, or other specialist equipment.
(b) aerial appliance for improved access and egress or as an inspection platform and water
tower (see appendix 2).
(c) Hazardous materials and environmental protection officer (HMEPO), Rapid Response Team (RRT) or scientific advisor (SA) to monitor and advise on the environment and conditions within and immediately outside the silo.
(d) Tactical advisors:
(i) USAR (UA).
(ii) Technical rescue advisor (TRA).
(iii) Bulk media advisor (BMA).
(iv) Hazardous Material & Environmental Protection Officer (HMEPO)
6.6 Personnel must not enter a silo
unless there is an immediate threat of serious injury or loss of life.
6.7 Before personnel are committed into a silo, the IC must consider whether:
(a) There is a safer option for undertaking the required task.
(b) All practicable steps have been taken to remove or mitigate prevailing hazards, such as shutting down plant machinery, isolating power supplies and any self-actuating control devices.
(c) Safe access and egress can be maintained.
(d) Personnel have sufficient skills and equipment to undertake the whole task or whether additional resources will be required.
(e) There is adequate light and ventilation inside the silo.
6.8 If a decision is made to commit personnel into a silo, the IC must implement the following:
- 8 If a decision is made to commit personnel into a silo, the IC must implement the following:
(a) Seek advice from a responsible person and/or the technical rescue advisor (TRA) before operations commence.
(b) Implement Level 2 line operations.
(c) Appoint and brief safety officers before personnel enter the silo.
(d) Personnel must be fully briefed on their task, how this relates to the overall plan for the incident and all relevant safety considerations.
(e) Appropriate DIM equipment is used to confirm safety of atmosphere.
(f) Only the required number of personnel and equipment necessary to undertake the task should be committed into the silo.
(g) Vehicles and staff have been be prevented from tipping in contents at any access points.
6.9 Crews entering into a silo must be lead
By a crew manager as a minimum.
