On the preparation of grain drying complexes for the grain harvesting campaign and fodder procurement

The Russian proverb "prepare the sleigh in summer and the cart in winter" means that one should prepare for everything in advance to be ready at the right moment. This life wisdom is very applicable to the preparation of grain drying complexes for the start of the 2024 harvest campaign.

A grain cleaning and drying complex (hereinafter referred to as GCDС) is a set of equipment designed for post-harvest processing (cleaning, drying) of grain, leguminous, and cereal crops, and involves comprehensive mechanization of cleaning, drying, and loading/unloading operations. The GCDС includes various equipment, but the drying section is the heart of the complex. Here, grain collected from the fields is dried to the required moisture content, which subsequently contributes to long-term and safe grain storage.

The Vitebsk Regional Department of Gospromnadzor has registered over 120 seasonal agricultural gas-consuming installations. Industrial safety requirements for organizations operating gas distribution system and gas consumption facilities are established by the Industrial Safety Regulations in the Field of Gas Supply of the Republic of Belarus, approved by the Resolution of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus dated December 5, 2022, No. 66 (hereinafter referred to as the Regulations).

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

Here are some of them:

current repairs of gas pipelines, gas equipment, and automation systems of the GCDС, as well as planned preventive maintenance of the GCDС and auxiliary equipment, have not been carried out;
documents confirming the qualifications of workers servicing potentially hazardous facilities are missing;
workers operating gasified grain drying complexes do not have certificates entitling them to service potentially hazardous facilities;
knowledge of industrial safety issues among maintenance personnel has not been tested;
an act from a specialized organization on checking the technical condition of smoke channels is missing;
technological and labor protection instructions for persons engaged in the technical operation of gas distribution system and gas consumption facilities are missing.

Important! In accordance with clause 344 of the Rules, before commissioning seasonal gas-using equipment, the operating organization must ensure:

verification of employees' knowledge on industrial safety issues;
maintenance and current repair of gas pipelines
and gas-using equipment (conclude agreements with an organization licensed to carry out industrial safety activities, for the maintenance and repair of internal gas pipelines and gas-using units, performing these works on a contractual basis, if the operating organization does not have its own gas service);
verification of the operability of automation and signaling systems;
performance of 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 supply are permitted only in the presence of documents confirming the completion of the specified works.

In order to prevent the disruption of the 2024 grain harvesting campaign and fodder preparation, to provide methodological assistance and to conduct explanatory work with economic entities, it is proposed to contact the Vitebsk Regional Department of Gosgortekhnadzor for the organization and conduct of control (supervisory) measures upon the request of the inspected entity in accordance with clause 23 of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of October 16, 2009 No. 510 "On improving control (supervisory) activities in the Republic of Belarus".

For all questions regarding the procedure for commissioning seasonal equipment, please call 8 (0212) 48-07-23.