The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has released new safety guidelines to protect grain industry workers. The grain industry continues to remain a dangerous field, as employees have been crushed or suffocated while working.  In 2021, 38% of reported grain engulfments turned deadly because required safeguards were not followed.

To help grain industry employers, OSHA announced the following guidelines for grain safety, including:

• Turning off/locking out equipment before entering a bin or performing maintenance.
• Never walking down grain to make it flow.
• Testing the air in the bin before entering.
• Using a safety harness and anchored lifeline.
• Placing a trained observer outside of the bin in case of an emergency.
• Not entering a bin where grain is built up on the side.
• Controlling the accumulation of grain dust through housekeeping.

OSHA's Grain Handling Safety Standards focus on the grain and feed industry's six major hazards: engulfment, falls, auger entanglement, "struck by," combustible dust explosions and electrocution hazard.