The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been forced to reiterate the policies outlined in their Grain Handling Facilities standard, due to a rash of recent injuries and fatalities in the industry. The reminder serves to draw attention to section 1910.272 of the standard[2], which outlines a comprehensive safety policy that can help to save lives and prevent the type of accidents which have recently grabbed headlines.
There are several ways that working with grain can make for dangerous conditions, and the hazards are not limited to the agricultural sector. Transportation and grain storage activities are also implicated in a significant portion of the accidents listed as occurring each year.
The leading causes of death related to grain handling are threefold:
- falls in silos, at storage facilities or while moving through grain containers themselves,
- suffocation as a result of sinking into containers of loose grain or being smothered by falling grain,
- and becoming entangled in the machinery that is used in grain processing.
- Additional hazards faced by workers exposed to grain include fire and the risk of dust explosions.
Please read full at OSHA Observer that offers simple steps that risk managers can take to reduce the chance that these tragedies will occur by Benjamin Hunting
Or more on combustible dust safety at dustexplosions blog