Lesson 3 - Malt Intake, Handling, and Storage SAQ

**How is malt dangerous and what devices can we use to maintain safety when handling malt?

Response:

Dust is hazardous to work with because it can cause harm to our respiratory systems and can explode. It is a respiratory sensitiser, can trigger asthma attacks, and long-term exposure can lead to farmer’s lung and alveolitis. It can even cause contact dermatitis. Dust explosions can cause extensive damage, injury, and death. To avoid explosions:

• Electrical equipment used in dusty atmospheres needs to be non-sparking or intrinsically safe.

• The entire malt handling system needs to be electrically earthed to help prevent sparking.

• An aspiration system must be installed that continuously removes dust and maintains a negative pressure in the system to prevent dust leakage.

• Malt handling systems should be fitted with spark arrestors and explosion suppression systems.

• Spark detection equipment that shuts down the system in the event of sparking must be used.

• The grain needs to be cleaned using screens, magnets, and destoners before milling to remove metal and stones which can cause sparking.

• On bucket elevators, rotation sensors and speed detectors should be fitted to shut down the elevator in the event of belt slippage. They should also have belt alignment detection and non-sparking plastic buckets.

• Explosion relief panels and rotary valves should be fitted to any equipment at risk of explosion to prevent explosions spreading further. These should be connected to the malt handling control system and shut down the system in the event of an explosion.

• The whole grain handling system should be subject to regular maintenance and formal inspection to assess the level of risk and the effectiveness of controls.

• Operators should use appropriate PPE when there is a risk of dust being present.

• Regular health screening covering lung function and skin condition should be carried out on anyone likely to be exposed to dust.