Grain-handling information, fatalities and OSHA inspections

Preparing for fall harvest:  grain bin safety

What are the dangers with grain bins?

Grain-handling information on the federal OSHA website

MNOSHA letter to grain storage facility operators, Aug. 18, 2010

Minnesota OSHA inspections during 2003 to 2010

Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) conducted 103 nonfatal inspections and eight fatality inspections in grain facilities from 2003 to 2010. Of the eight fatalities, three resulted in MNOSHA issuing citations for entrapment hazards and four resulted in citations for lack of employee training.

Unfortunately, these were not rare occurrences. A review of federal OSHA inspection data found grain entrapments generally occur because of employer negligence, noncompliance with OSHA standards, and overall poor safety and health practices.

During MNOSHA's fatality, near-miss, serious injury and planned compliance investigations, inspectors determined a main reason for these accidents was employees walking on top of the grain. Often, the employees who became engulfed in grain went inside a grain bin to try to dislodge or break up the grain and the buildup of grain collapsed below them or from the sides of the bin.

Minnesota OSHA fatality inspections at grain facilities from 2003 to 2010
2010	No fatalities in grain facilities covered by MNOSHA jurisdiction
2009	No fatalities in grain facilities covered by MNOSHA jurisdiction
2008	No fatalities in grain facilities covered by MNOSHA jurisdiction
2007	Two fatalities in grain facilities covered by MNOSHA jurisdiction
2006	Two fatalities in grain facilities covered by MNOSHA jurisdiction
2005	No fatalities in grain facilities covered by MNOSHA jurisdiction
2004	One fatality in grain facilities covered by MNOSHA jurisdiction
2003	Three fatalities in grain facilities covered by MNOSHA jurisdiction

Strategic plan adds planned compliance inspections
Because MNOSHA noticed an increase in the trend of serious accidents and fatalities involving walking on top of grain in bins, it added grain industries to its strategic plan for 2009 through 2013. MNOSHA will conduct planned compliance inspections and offer free safety and health consultations at grain-handling facilities.

Family farms
In Minnesota, the majority of the fatalities involving grain-handling and storage involved farmers and farm workers, who are not under MNOSHA jurisdiction. See chart:  Fatal occupational injuries caused by grains and grain mill products, Minnesota and all United States, all ownerships, 2003 to 2010