On the preparation of grain-drying complexes for the grain

The Vitebsk Regional Department of State Supervision informs about the necessity of complying with industrial safety requirements when preparing seasonal gas-using installations for operation, which provide air heating for grain drying complexes.

There are more than 60 enterprises in the Vitebsk region, which have about 130 seasonal grain drying complexes on their balance, which include heat generators operating on gaseous fuel, which are, in accordance with the Law of the Republic of Belarus dated January 5, 2016 No. 354-Z "On Industrial Safety", potentially hazardous facilities (hereinafter referred to as PHF).

Inspectors of the Vitebsk Regional Department of State Supervision conduct annual inspections of all potentially hazardous facilities that ensure the operation of grain drying complexes, the operation of which is planned for the harvesting campaign of the current year.

As experience from previous years shows, when preparing seasonal installations for operation during the harvesting campaign, economic entities commit a number of characteristic violations of industrial safety requirements.

Here are some of them:

current repairs of gas pipelines, gas equipment, automation systems of GDC, scheduled preventive maintenance of GDC and auxiliary equipment have not been carried out;
there are no documents confirming the qualifications of workers servicing potentially hazardous facilities;
workers operating gasified grain drying complexes do not have certificates for servicing potentially hazardous facilities;
there has been no verification of the knowledge of the servicing personnel on industrial safety issues;
there is no act from a specialized organization on the inspection of the technical condition of flue ducts;
there are no technological instructions and labor protection instructions for persons engaged in the technical operation of gas distribution system and gas consumption facilities.

Important! In accordance with paragraph 344 of the Rules for Ensuring Industrial Safety in the Field of Gas Supply, approved by the resolution of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated 05.12.2022 No. 66, the operating organization must ensure before putting seasonal gas-using equipment into operation:

verification of employees' knowledge on industrial safety issues;
technical maintenance and current repair of gas pipelines
and gas-using equipment (conclude contracts with an organization that has a license to carry out activities in the field of industrial safety for the technical maintenance and repair of internal gas pipelines, gas-using installations, performing these works on a contractual basis, in case the operating organization does not have its own gas service);
verification of the operability of automation and signaling systems;
conducting scheduled preventive maintenance of gas-using and auxiliary equipment;
verification of smoke removal and ventilation systems with the issuance of an act;
verification of grounding devices and lightning protection.

ATTENTION! The removal of the plug and the start of gas are allowed only in the presence of documents confirming the completion of the specified work.

The most problematic issue is the admission of personnel to service PHF.

In accordance with paragraph 13 of the Rules, operating organizations must ensure the presence of the necessary number of workers for the safe operation of gas distribution system and gas consumption facilities, as determined by the project, who have undergone the necessary training and verification of knowledge on industrial safety issues, including workers working in the profession of laborer, meeting the necessary qualification requirements, with the right to perform gas hazardous work, trained in the rules of using personal protective equipment, methods of providing first aid, having no medical contraindications to the specified work and admitted in the established manner to independent work.

In order to prevent disruption of the harvesting campaign of grain and forage procurement in 2025, to provide methodological assistance and conduct explanatory work with economic entities, it is proposed to contact the Vitebsk Regional Department of State Supervision to organize and conduct control (supervisory) activities upon the request of the inspected entity in accordance with paragraph 23 of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus dated 16.10.2009 No. 510 "On Improving Control (Supervisory) Activities in the Republic of Belarus".

For any questions regarding the procedure for starting seasonal equipment, you can contact by phone 8 (0212) 48-07-23.

On the preparation of grain-drying complexes for the grain harvesting campaign and feed preparation