Grainnet

This article is reprinted with permission from RCI Safety

OSHA Assistant Secretary David Michaels recently sent more than 10,000 letters to grain handling facilities reminding them of their responsibility to comply with the Grain Handling Standard.

These new letters are in addition to the 3,000 letters OSHA sent to the grain industry in August.

The letters are sent in response to a dramatic increase in the number of workers engulfed and suffocated in grain bins. Last year 26 U.S. workers were killed in grain entrapments.

OSHA is sending the message that they are taking this issue seriously and they expect all grain handling facilities to be aware.

If you should have an engulfment incident at your facility which results in serious injury or death, OSHA may hand out a willful fine which can reach $70,000. Ignorance is no longer bliss.

OSHA will state that you were made aware of the problem by receiving the letter.

The letter specifically states, “...it is your responsibility to prevent workers from dying in grain storage facilities.”

As you can see in the letter, recent grain bin fatalities result in fines exceeding $1 million.

Train your employees on what is required before entering a bin:

• Lockout all electrical, mechanical and moving equipment – including augers!

• No walking down grain – No poking up at grain

• For employees entering a bin with grain, provide body harness and lifeline attached so employee can't sink into grain further than waist-deep

• Ventilate bins and pits - test the air before entering

• Have a rescue plan

• Make certain there is an observer that isn’t multi-tasking

• If employer can’t be present, issue a permit

Train employees beyond the requirements - make certain no one gets injured or killed:

• Make a list of when a worker may enter a bin

• Make a list of when a worker is not allowed to enter a bin unless the Bin Entry procedures are followed

• Make a list of when a worker is NEVER allowed to enter a bin

• Why not require a permit ANY time a worker enters a bin with product inside – that way you have documentation and checklists to ensure everything has been completed

Train at LEAST once a year!

Take this seriously – OSHA is!

Review OSHA’s grain storage bins fact sheet to help avoid engulfment hazards.

For more information, call Jenny Boeckman, RCI Safety, 800-888-9596, ext. 213.

See Related Websites/Articles:

• RCI Safety

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