Illinois Grain Company Faces Over $276K in OSHA Penalties
Federal investigators found Alliance Grain Co. violated safety standards after a worker suffered a serious foot injury in a grain silo.
- By Jesse Jacobs
- Feb 25, 2026
A central Illinois grain company faces $276,407 in proposed federal penalties after a seasonal laborer suffered a serious foot injury, according to OSHA.
The injury occurred when a worker stepped through an unguarded sump hole and onto a moving paddle-style unloading conveyor. Following an inspection, OSHA issued two willful, one serious, and three other-than-serious citations to Alliance Grain Co.
Investigators determined the company failed to protect workers from stepping into sump holes and neglected to provide required grain handling training. The agency also found the employer failed to implement lockout/tagout procedures for dangerous machinery during grain bin entry.
Additional violations included failing to issue permits before bin entry, failing to utilize an observer outside the bin, and failing to test the atmosphere inside the bin before workers entered.
Alliance Grain Co. has 15 business days from receipt of the citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
About the Author
Jesse Jacobs is assistant editor of OHSOnline.com.