Top 5 OSHA citations and how to avoid them

Grain handling and processing facilities that follow proper procedures around workplace hazards keep workers safe and avoid costly fines.

February 27, 2023

Facilities that handle grain must deal with a variety of hazards. The ones that get the most attention are entrapments, engulfment's, dust explosions and fires.

All of these are serious, but the hazards responsible for the most injuries, citations and even fatalities do not get the same level of media exposure.

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Five smiling professionals standing together against a white wall in casual business attire

US ethanol industry eyes West Africa markets

Scattered Euro banknotes in various denominations including €10, €20, €50, and €100 notes displayed on a surface

LDC Group records revenue growth

Worker freed after motor pins arm on grain bin

A specialized rescue team safely removed a man trapped atop a grain silo after heavy equipment fell on him.

Red and white fire truck front with hexagonal grille, emergency lights, and equipment in garage

Brand Insights

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Second explosion hits Iowa feed mill

Firefighters battled flames for hours at the Kent Feeds in Sheldon, Iowa, facility after an early morning blast.

Red and white fire truck front with hexagonal grille, headlights, and emergency equipment in garage

UK animal feed manufacturer sentenced after worker’s serious injury

A Merseyside, England, animal feed manufacturer has been sentenced after a maintenance engineer suffered severe, life‑changing injuries when his arm was drawn into an unguarded conveyor.

Grain safety training comes to Delmarva farms

Mountaire Farms brings hands-on instruction to local farmers after fatal incidents.

Workers in yellow hard hats participate in safety training demonstration at industrial trade show

NGFA sets Harvest Safety Week 2026 for late August

Campaign will offer resources on heat illness prevention and safe grain dryer and dump pit operations.

Mountaire Farms offers grain safety training

Free workshop teaches farmers, first responders grain bin rescue techniques.

Agricultural confined space deaths decline

Purdue University report documents 48 cases in 2025, down from 51 in 2024.

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Fewer OSHA inspections, greater risk for grain firms

Regulatory oversight may ease, but persistent hazards and rising penalties mean grain handlers can’t let safety slip.

Construction workers wearing orange safety vests and harnesses working on a roof installation during daytime.

Student in critical condition after grain silo fall

A 21-year-old Eastern Washington University student remains in critical condition after falling from a grain silo in Cheney, Washington.

Red and white fire truck with hexagonal grille and emergency lights parked in garage

Nebraska fire crew trains for grain bin rescues

Local firefighters prepare for rare but critical grain bin emergencies with high-angle rope rescue drills.

Grain bin entrapment kills worker in Illinois

Mt. Carmel, Illinois, Fire Department responds to fatal entrapment incident involving three workers at grain storage facility.

Red and white fire truck front view with hexagonal grille and emergency lights in garage

Fire breaks out at Heartland Co-Op in Iowa

Firefighters respond to grain leg blaze; no injuries reported.

Red and white fire truck front grille and bumper with emergency lights in garage bay

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