As the ginning season in West Texas continues, we have seen two additional lint cleaner accidents which we thought should be shared with all TCGA members.  Please take a minute to review the publication below, and be sure to reinforce these issues with all of your workers during your next safety meeting at the gin.

January 12, 2018

LINT CLEANERS!!!

A Couple of Trust member gins have had arms caught in the feed rollers of a lint cleaners this year.

Like so many times in the past these accidents resulted from careless disregard for safe operating procedures by an experienced employee.

Accident #1:  The gin was having problems with the lint cleaner feeding cotton that afternoon, likely due to ginning low-mic cotton. The ginner told the ginners’ helper to spray primer on the rollers to help the cotton feed.  The helper went to the cleaner, opened the feed works and started painting the rollers WITHOUT SHUTTING DOWN and LOCKING OUT the machine.

His left arm was caught in the feed rollers which continued to turn until the ginner heard the call for help and was able to cut the power. The arm was DE-GLOVED FROM THE  SHOULDER TO THE ELBOW.

Accident #2: The gin was idling at the time an employee noticed a piece of cotton tumbling in the rollers of a lint cleaner.  The employee lifted the guard and reached in to pull the cotton from the rollers WITHOUT SHUTTING DOWN and LOCKING OUT the machine.  His arm was caught in the feed rollers and was DE-GLOVED FROM THE SHOULDER TO THE ELBOW.

Fortunately, the crews remembered to take the cleaners apart to get them out.

Backing the arm out likely would have led to greater injury. HE REMAINED CAUGHT IN THE MACHINE WHILE THEY DISASSEMBLED THE FEED WORKS.

Take a moment to re-enforce everyone’s safety consciousness:

Perform a thorough safety self inspection; review the results with supervisors and ginners!!

Continue your safety meetings, and discuss these accidents!

Remind all hands to shut down, LOCK-OUT, AND WAIT FOR MACHINERY TO STOP before beginning work in or on it!

Constantly monitor hazardous areas in and around the gin!

Some specific reminders on LINT CLEANER SAFETY:

Guard all cleaners to the Trust’s current standard. Call us if you have any questions regarding the standard.

Be sure all guards and access doors are bolted securely in place, particularly the guard bars and doors restricting access to the saws and rollers, and warning signs are in place!

RESTRICT ACCESS TO THE LINT CLEANER AREA to authorized, well trained hands!  RE-EMPHASIZE THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN!!!

Provide gin sticks and air tools of adequate length to reach through guards!

AGAIN, SHUT DOWN, LOCK-OUT, AND WAIT FOR THE MACHINERY TO STOP before opening any access!

PLEASE KEEP ALL HANDS FOCUSED ON SAFE OPERATIONS.

REMIND ALL EMPLOYEES TO TAKE PARTICULAR CARE AND FOLLOW SAFETY PROCEDURES WHEN DEALING WITH SOME OF THE HARD TO GIN COTTON THIS YEAR!