After the accident, OSHA inspectors visited the facility and found many more violations, including several repeat or willful violations. Three serious violations were found, with one of them being a large amount of grain dust hazards and accumulations. OSHA labels a violation as serious if an employer knew about, or should have known about, a hazard that could result in death or serious physical harm. The penalties proposed for these violations is over $65,000, and the company has 15 days to respond to these penalties.
Grain dust has been a major contributor to combustible dust incidents in the United States, which OSHA says have caused the deaths of 119 workers, over 700 severe injuries, and cost millions in damages to industrial facilities.
OSHA’s area director who oversaw this inspection explained the importance of following safety regulations: “”Workers in the grain handling industry are regularly exposed to danger-from engulfment to dangerous equipment to potential explosions from grain dust accumulation. Industry leaders must ensure their workers are trained on all necessary precautions to avoid these hazards.”
The grain industry in general has been under close scrutiny from OSHA since 2010, when over 26 workers were fatally injured while working in grain bins. OSHA identified 6 major danger areas for grain handling facilities- engulfment, falls, auger entanglement, struck-by, combustible grain dust explosions, and electrocution hazards.
To help prevent more grain handling accidents OSHA has published a variety of information on grain safety and has been more diligent about inspecting grain handling facilities.
To ask questions about safety, obtain compliance assistance, file a safety complaint, or report workplace hospitalizations, fatalities or situations posing imminent danger to workers, anyone can call OSHA’s toll-free hotline at 800-321-OSHA (6742) or visit https://www.osha.gov/as/opa/worker/complain.html
Read OSHA’s Press Release About Their Findings HERE