After an investigation by OSHA, a grain elevator business in Illinois was cited $205,106 and placed on the Severe Violator Enforcement Program for failing to provide safety protections to its employees. A worker suffered fatal injuries after falling into a grain bin at its Grant Park facility. OSHA cited the business for two willful and three serious violations. The agency found that the grain operator allowed employees to enter a grain bin by using a ladder with rungs spaced greater than 14 inches apart and without a body harness and lifeline; failed to provide rescue equipment, and exposed employees to engulfment hazards while walking down grain. OSHA also cited the company for failure to disconnect or lockout equipment, test atmospheric conditions, and post an observer prior to allowing employees to enter the storage bin.
Citation 1 Item 1a
Type of Violation: Serious; $5,398
29 CFR 1910.147(c)(4)(i): Procedures were not developed, documented, and utilized for the control of potentially hazardous energy when employees were engaged in activities covered by this section:
a. On or about January 8, 2020, at the above worksite, the employer failed to ensure an energy control procedure was developed and documented for the control of hazardous energy when an employee was engaged in a service and/or maintenance task, thereby exposing employees to hazards associated with unexpected re-energization of equipment such as feeder legs, gates, and conveyors.
Citation 1 Item 1b
Type of Violation: Serious
29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(ii): Prior to entry, all mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment which presented a danger to employees inside grain storage structures in the grain handling facility was not disconnected, locked out and tagged, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods.
a. On January 8, 2020, at the above-addressed worksite, the employer did not ensure employees were protected from bin entry hazards. The bin gates and conveyors on bin # 14 were not locked out or otherwise prevented from operating, thereby exposing the employees inside grain storage bin to engulfment hazards.
Citation 1 Item 2
Type of Violation: Serious; $5,398
29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(iii): The atmosphere within a bin, silo, or tank in the grain handling facility was not tested for the presence of combustible gases, vapors, and toxic agents prior to employee entry.
a. On January 8, 2020, at the above addressed worksite, the employer did not ensure that employees who entered grain storage bin# 14 were protected from bin entry hazards in that, the atmosphere was not tested prior to allowing employees to enter the bin, thereby exposing employees to hazards associated with a hazardous atmosphere.
Citation 1 Item 3
Type of Violation: Serious; $5,398
29 CFR 1910.272(g)(3): In the grain handling facility an observer, equipped to provide assistance, was not stationed outside the bin, silo, or tank being entered by an employee:
a. On January 8, 2020, at the above addressed worksite, employees who entered grain storage bin # 14 were not protected from bin entry hazards because an observer equipped to provide assistance in an emergency, was not always stationed outside the bin entered by employees.
Citation 2 Item 1
Type of Violation: Willful; $134,937
29 CFR 1910.23(b)(2): Ladder rungs, steps, and cleats are spaced not less than 10 inches (25 cm) and not more than 14 inches (36 cm) apart, as measured between the centerlines of the rungs, cleats, and steps, except that:
a. On January 8, 2020, at the above addressed worksite, employees working inside of the bin # 14 were exposed to fall hazards when climbing the fixed ladder inside the bin. The ladder rungs were spaced approximately 24 inches apart, thereby exposing employees to hazards associated with falls.
The alleged violations below have been grouped because they involve similar or related hazards that may increase the potential for injury or illness.
Citation 2 Item 2a
Type of Violation: Willful; $53,975
29 CFR 1910.272(g)(1)(iv): The employer did not prohibit “walking down grain” and similar practices where the employee walks on grain to make it flow within or out from a grain storage structure, or where an employee is on moving grain:
a. On January 8, 2020, at the above addressed worksite, the employer failed to prohibit walking down the grain and similar practices when requiring employees to enter bin # 14 to break up grain inside of the bin to allow the grain to flow, thereby exposing employees to engulfment hazards.
Citation 2 Item 2b
Type of Violation: Willful;
29 CFR 1910.272(g)(2): When entering the grain handling facility bins, silos, or tanks from the top, employees did not wear a body harness with a lifeline, or use a boatswain’s chair that met the requirements of Subpart D, 29CFR 1910.28(j)(a).
a. On January 8, 2020, at the above addressed worksite, the employer did not ensure that employees who entered grain storage bin # 14 to conduct cleaning operations were provided with harnesses and lifelines, thereby exposing employees to hazards associated with engulfment and suffocation.
Citation 2 Item 2c
Type of Violation: Willful; Corrected During Inspection
29 CFR 19 I 0.272(g)( 4): The employer did not provide equipment for rescue operations, which was specifically suited for the bin, silo, or tank being entered:
a. On January 8, 2020, at the above addressed worksite, the employer did not ensure that employees who entered grain storage bin # 14 were provided rescue equipment. Thereby exposing employees to hazards associated with a grain bin entry.
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