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COTTON FARMING IS THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE GINNING INDUSTRY.
OSHA’s Citations Pushing The Envelope Under the current administration, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has increased its focus on enforcement. You don’t have to look hard to find a news article related to some large fine being issued for safety violations found at a company. Agriculture is a significant focus for OSHA right now, and they are happy to tell you that if you ask. Grain elevators are a special focus – more specifically, engulfment hazards in grain bins. Combustible dust is another emphasis, and the fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, is a final part of this overall emphasis. Most of the above issues are unrelated, but they all combine into a nice set of bullet points targeting agriculture. We have received reports of OSHA officials, when discussing a cotton gin, mention the West explosion as one reason they are so concerned about agriculture. Whether that specific inspector realizes the difference between the West facility and a cotton gin is unknown, but it seems that OSHA commonly blurs the line between facility types when issuing citations. For this reason, it is very critical for you to know how the regulations affect your specific facility. For another good example, agriculture is covered by Section 1928 of the regulations, which is the agricultural section. There are noise regulations that affect general industry and noise regulations for construction, but standards are different for construction and general industry because the exposure is different. The exposure for agriculture is very different from the exposure for either construction or general industry. For this reason, agriculture is not covered by the noise standard. If you check OSHA’s website, a section exists that explains what to do if an inspector measures a noise level in an agricultural facility that exceeds the general industry standard. The web page says: “Since 29 CFR 1928.21(a) does not reference the general industry noise standard (29 CFR 1910.95). “Hearing conservation programs are not mandatory in agricultural operations. However, if the CSHO inspects such operations and determines that they are likely to cause employees to be exposed to noise in excess of an eight-hour, time-weighted average of 85 dBA, the employer should be advised that it is good practice to reduce the noise level or provide ear protection and to train employees in the proper use
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Stover Unwrapper GIS
Stover Module Retriever Bed
* Meets all John Deere requirements * 100% electric (no hydraulics) * One person to remove wrap * Process at 80+ bales per hour * Gantry is stationary * Adaptable to most module feeders * Computerized touch screen controls
* Rubber Tracks * RMS Chain on entire bed * Specially designed hydraulic tracks * Stover sliding tracks * Splitter valve * Automatic rear bumper * Optional camera and monitor
800-689-7740 361-884-8961 www.stoverequipment.com
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and fit of ear protection and in the hazards of noise exposure. Wherever it is practical, periodic audiometric testing should be encouraged to ensure the effectiveness of hearing protection.� We have an ongoing situation today where OSHA did measure noise levels above the 85 dBA level mentioned above, and the gin was already doing what is outlined in OSHA’s explanation above. The OSHA office has cited the gin and indicated that making hearing protection mandatory is needed to resolve the citation. In our opinion, this significantly conflicts with their own rules, and we are in the process of contesting this citation. Only time will tell whether this citation will be resolved in our favor, but it remains a very good example for how OSHA will push the envelope when issuing citations. If you receive a citation from OSHA, it is very important for you to know what rules apply to your operations, and for you to be sure they are only citing your operation for appropriate violations.
Cotton Gin Brushes
Channel Saws
Our precision CNC fabricating equipment enables us to produce the highest quality gin brushes and channel saws at a very competitive price. When it comes to our products, we use only the highest quality “Made in the USA� raw materials available. We know gin machinery and the conditions in which it has to perform, and our brushes and channel saws are manufactured to an exacting standard for the modern cotton gin.
Ask your supplier for
RAM Brushes & Channel Saws or give us a call
Kelley Green, technical services director of the Texas Cotton Ginners’ Association, contributed this article. Contact him at the association’s main headquarters in Austin, Texas, at (512) 476-8388 or via email at kelley@tcga.org.
Did you know that we offer interactive training classes in English and Spanish?
samjackson.com 1-806-795-5218
RAM Manufacturing Company 1333 E. 44th St. Lubbock, TX 79404 806-745-5552 Fax: 806-745-5582 rammfgco@rammfg.net www.rammfg.net
Email our training coordinator Savannah for schedules. savannah@samjackson.com
Parts, Supplies, New and Used Machinery Buy and Sell
MILES GIN SUPPLY Elm Mott,TX 76640
Call or Fax (254) 829-1201 Night (254) 829-2372
!
COTTON FARMING MAY 2015
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NORTHERN/LUCUS MACHINE 1116 Slaton Hwy. Lubbock, TX FOR SALE: 2 – 158 GIN STANDS WITH CONTROLS MANUFACTURER OF HI-CAPACITY LINT CLEANING SYSTEMS IN 86” to 110” WIDTHS NEW 60” & 72” OVERSHOT BATTERY CONDENSERS 96” TO 144” INCLINE CLEANERS, STICK MACHINES & AIRLINE SEPARATORS HIGH CAPACITY VACUUMS USED & FACTORY REBUILT GIN MACHINERY BALE HANDLING SYSTEMS COMPLETE LINE OF REPAIR PARTS FOR MURRAY, MITCHELL, H.E., CONSOLIDATED, CONTINENTAL, MOSS, LUMMUS, HORN & CMI 806-745-8156 1-800-776-8182 FAX 806-745-0564 E-MAIL: NORTHERNLUCUS@YAHOO.COM WWW.NORTHERNLUCUS.COM
Lummus Corporation has available the following quality, high-capacity used gin machinery. All machinery is offered “as is, where is” (unless noted otherwise) and is subject to prior sale. “As is” machinery can be repaired/reconditioned for an additional charge. 1 – Consolidated 96” R-5000 Stick Machine*
2 – Lummus Model 66 Lint Cleaners with Condensers
2 – Lummus Model 108 Lint Cleaners with 30” x 108” Condensers
1 – Cherokee Regal RFB Lint Cleaner with Condenser and Guards
(1997 model) and Deluxe Guards (Guards can be configured for either Single or Tandem installation)
1 – Belt-Wide 75-HP Flooded-Suction Hydraulic Booster Pumping Unit 1 – Lubbock Electric Hydraulic Pumping Unit for Gin Dor-Les® or E.E.
1 – Lummus 60” overshot Standard Battery Condenser*
Dor-Les® Press (single reservoir with multiple motor/pump groups) 1 – Consolidated 72” undershot Standard Battery Condenser* 1 – Lummus Bale Handling System for up-packing press 1 – Consolidated 72” undershot MC Battery Condenser* 1 – Lot, miscellaneous Burner and Moisture Unit components 1 – 1997 model Ginning/Lint Cleaning Line, consisting of a 96” wide Model 700TM Feeder, 170-Saw ImperialTM III Gin, Super-Jet® Lint Cleaner, and tandem (2) Model 108
(contact us for details) * - does not include any Steel Supports or Platforms
Lint Cleaners, with all guards, duct work, and related items
Physical Address: 225 Bourne Boulevard • Savannah, Georgia 31408-9586 USA Mailing Address: P.O. Box 929 • Pooler, Georgia 31322-0929 USA Phone: (912) 447-9000 • Fax: (912) 447-9250 Toll Free (USA Only): 1-800-4LUMMUS (1-800-458-6687) Web Site: www.lummus.com • E-mail: lummus.sales@lummus.com ®
© Copyright 2015 Lummus Corporation
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