OSHA Continues Safety Emphasis Program for Grain Handling

According to OSHA's News Release on October 2, 2024, the program will extend 5 more years and will be in place through September 30, 2029. You can access the news release here: https://www.osha.gov/news/newsreleases/kansas-city/20241002#:~:text=The%20expanded%20five%2Dyear%20program,and%20equipment%20repair%20or%20maintenance.

When it comes to grain bin entrapment and engulfment accidents, safety experts have a simple rule: never go inside a grain bin filled with grain. But at harvest time, problems can arise.

Hazards at grain handling facilities are well documented and include dangers related to fires and explosions if combustible dust ignites, engulfment, confined spaces, falls, auger entanglements, electrical shock and electrocution, struck-by incidents, and those related to rail car operations.

The expanded five-year program targets industry employers with grain elevators, grain storage and milling operations, and those engaged in animal feed production, farm machinery and equipment repair or maintenance.

There are dozens of grain handling accidents that occur each year in the U.S. That’s why OSHA has placed several states under regional emphasis programs over the years to promote worker safety at grain handling facilities.

Between Oct. 1, 2020, and Sept. 30, 2023, OSHA responded to three fatalities, 13 reported amputations and 36 hospitalizations among industry workers in the three states alone. During that period, the agency completed 104 inspections including 68 in Kansas, 28 in Nebraska and eight in Missouri, and received 131 complaints or referrals about unsafe conditions in the grain handling industry.

There were at least 27 cases of grain-related entrapments and 28 cases of other types of accidents in 2023, according to an annual report on accidents involving agricultural confined spaces in the U.S. from Purdue University. Those 55 total cases, which include 29 fatal ones, are a nearly 34% decrease from the 83 cases in 2022. The number of grain entrapment cases also declined about 36% from the previous year.

OSHA’s On-Site Consultation Program offers free and confidential advice to small and medium businesses in all states across the country, with priority given to high-hazard worksites.

OSHA also offers online compliance information about grain handling. Resources include Hazards and controls in Agricultural Operations, Respiratory Protection and the Hazard Exposure and Risk Assessment eMatrix.