Over-pressurisation of silos during deliveries can result in silos rupturing or filter housings being ejected and a significant risk of ‘struck by’ injuries. ‘Struck by flying or falling objects’ is one of the MPA’s ‘Fatal 6’; the high consequence hazards responsible for most of the major injuries and fatalities within the sector.

The MPA checklist for bulk powder deliveries can be used by those businesses delivering mineral powders to take a structured approach to assess silo safety at customer sites. The checklist has been updated to emphasise that the main safety concern when delivering powders pneumatically is over-pressurisation, which can result in catastrophic failure. Checking that the measures and controls identified in this document are applied, fitted and functioning correctly will help to eliminate or reduce such risks.

A new guide has been produced by MPA and Hycontrol to help prevent incidents that are related to silo over-pressurisation. Pneumatic delivery/discharge of powders into silos is an everyday occurrence at both mineral company and customer sites. Deliveries that are not well controlled and monitored or silos that are not correctly equipped and maintained present a significant risk of silo over-pressurisation.

The explosive failure of silos as a result of over pressurisation puts workers lives at risk or serious injury from the impact of flying or falling debris - one of the MPA ‘Fatal 6’ hazards.

Please see the link below to the Information Sheet prepared by HSENI regarding ‘Safe cleaning procedures for truck mounted mixing drums’.
 

The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is instructing ALL Concrete Operators to review their current risk assessment and safe system of work for cleaning the interior of truck mounted mixing drums.

Concrete Operators should eliminate the need to enter the mixing drum to perform cleaning activities where possible.

 
Inspectors from the Extractive Industry and Waste Group (EIWG) will be requesting evidence of Concrete Operators risk assessment, safe system of work and training records for this work activity during future inspections.

.Guidance on how to ensure control of the danger zone and what is expected from sentries.

Target Audience -  Managers, Supervisors, Shotfirers, Sentries and Explosives Supervisors