OSHA, Grain Industry Suggest Seven Easy Steps For Safer Outcomes
High statistics prove OSHA tips can save lives.
- By Shereen Hashem
- Mar 18, 2021
Statistics show, today, six out of every 10 workers trapped in a grain bin don’t make it out alive. This statistic can easily change when the 8,378 off-farm grain storage facilities’ operations decide to follow safety protocol, according to a press release.
These changes will be the focus of the fifth annual Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week, from March 29th through April 2, 2021. The event is a collaboration between OSHA, the Grain Handling Safety Coalition, the Grain Elevator and Processing society and the National Grain and Feed Association.
“Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week will bring industry professionals together to focus on how small changes can eliminate dangerous hazards that can cause great harm to their employees,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Occupational Safety and Health Jim Frederick. “This important collaboration will strengthen our coalition of agribusiness and safety professionals, and reinforce our shared commitment to safety and training.”
The alliance identified seven critical steps for grain safety:
- Turn off/lockout equipment before entering a bin or performing maintenance.
- Never walk down grain to make it flow.
- Test the air in the bin before entering.
- Use a safety harness and anchored lifeline.
- Place a trained observer outside of the bin in case of an emergency.
- Do not enter a bin where grain is built up on the side.
- Control the accumulation of grain dust through housekeeping.
OSHA held the first Stand Up 4 Grain Safety Week in 2017 and the event continues to grow each year. Learn more about OSHA’s agricultural safety resources.
About the Author
Shereen Hashem is the Associate Content Editor for Occupational Health & Safety magazine.