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Safety Alert — Avoid ‘Caught-In’ Accidents At The Tarp Roller
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Editor’s note: Safety is always the No. 1 priority at a cotton gin. Like other gin organizations, the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association is proactive in supporting safety efforts by providing guidelines for keeping gin workers safe while on the job. Here are some recommendations TCGA offered regarding powered tarp rollers in its December “The Ginnery” newsletter.
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There have been three accidents where employees were caught in the tarp roller in West Texas member gins in the last three weeks. All three have resulted in broken arms that required surgery. Unpowered, hand-cranked rollers are safer than powered rollers; use them where possible. Safe Use Of Powered Tarp Rollers Here are our recommendations for use of powered rollers: ¢ Install a spring-loaded switch that requires continuous pressure for the roller to operate. Knee-activated switches are the best option we’ve seen. ¢ Tarp rolling is a two-person job, so assign two workers. Tarps are heavy and bulky. When they are cold, they may be more difficult to start on the machine. Accident investigations indicate workers are not able to free themselves or cut power to the machine when they are caught. A second worker present may be able to prevent severe injury. ¢ Train employees in tarp roller operation. Remind them not to defeat the safety devices. For example, we have found spring-loaded switches tied closed, wedged to keep the contacts closed or wired-around. ¢ Gloves have no place around the tarp roller. If gloves must be worn, cut off the fingers of the glove so the tips will not be caught in the roll. ¢ No loose clothing should be worn around powered tarp rollers. Sleeves should be buttoned, shirts or jackets buttoned or zipped and clothing tails tucked in. ¢ Monitor activity at the tarp rollers, including operation and the condition of the switches. We recommend that supervisory employees from the manager on down make a point of checking the rollers at least once each shift.
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The Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association provided this information.
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2019 Ginners School Coming Up Soon The Ginners School will be offered at three locations in 2019. Cooperators for the school include the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, the National Cotton Ginners’ Association and its member associations, the National Cotton Council, Cotton Incorporated, gin machinery/equipment
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COTTON FARMING | FEBRUARY 2019
Indeco Products, Inc. PO Box 865 140 Ridge Drive San Marcos, TX 78667 512-396-5814 COTTONFARMING.COM