Loading fertilizer, Hopper safety information – Great Plains YP1630F-1670 Operator Manual User Manual
Page 39
Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
Operating Instructions
35
2012-12-27
401-832M
Loading Fertilizer
Hopper Safety Information
Entrapment and Rapid Suffocation Hazard:
Never enter a hopper for loading, unloading or routine
maintenance. Leave strainer in place except when instructed to
remove it. Keep lid tightly closed during operations. Keep lid
locked closed or, during storage, locked slightly open. Store
ladder to discourage access to lid area. Keep children away
from planter.
▲ A hopper that is full, or merely appears full, can be an
entrapment hazard. You can sink entirely into the material,
or into an oxygen-deficient void, and suffocate in a matter of
seconds. Bridges and crusts are especially dangerous.
▲ When hazardous fumes or low oxygen levels are present,
you can be quickly overcome even in an empty hopper with
the lid open. There may be no odors to alert you to the
hazard.
Blowing Debris and Inhalation Hazards:
Turn off fan before opening hopper lids. Wear eye protection
and dust mask or respirator. The hopper is mildly pressurized
and air is circulating in the hopper when the fan is running.
Opening a lid with the fan running can expose you to blowing
seed, fertilizer and treatment chemicals. Even with the fan off,
adding fertilizer creates a dust cloud. Risks include exposure
to hazardous chemicals, lung and eye irritation.
Planting Consistency Risk:
Check lid seals for damage and permanent compression at
frequent intervals. Check that latch closes lid tightly. Avoid
metering problems caused by air leaks. Air leaks can cause
irregular metering of materials.