Feeders can be dangerous, so lets talk feeder safety a bit. All walkways and work areas should be kept clear for easy access and exits, don’t leave things laying on or around feeders. If you have to bar in a feeder or a chute, here are a few hints that may save you a lot of pain.
- When barring always keep your scaling bar or pry bar to one side of your body, never in front of your body. The reason is this, if the hang-up comes down suddenly and hits the end of your bar it may either impale you or be pivoted off of your hands into your face.
- Wear gloves and make sure that your hand is not on a pinch point. That is, where your hand may be caught between the bar and the feeder should the hang up come down burying the bar.
- Wear safety glasses or goggles, preferably • goggles. V/hen a hang up comes down it displaces air, this causes a wind. This wind picks up small particles of dirt and rock and showers you with them.
- Have an emergency escape route planned in your mind. If you have to move backwards in a hurry you have a safe path figured out. This will help prevent confusion.
- The last thing that I would like to mention in this very short safety talk is never attempt to use explosives without the proper training and authority to do so.