Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 004 Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.272(g)(2): Whenever an employee enters a grain storage structure from a level at or above the level of the stored grain or grain products, or whenever an employee walks or stands on or in stored grain of a depth which poses an engulfment hazard, the employer shall equip the employee with a body harness with lifeline, or a boatswain's chair that meets the requirements of subpart D of this part. The lifeline shall be so positioned, and of sufficient length, to prevent the employee from sinking further than waist-deep in the grain. Exception: Where the employer can demonstrate that the protection required by this paragraph is not feasible or creates a greater hazard, the employer shall provide an alternative means of protection which is demonstrated to prevent the employee from sinking further than waist-deep in the grain.Note to paragraph (g)(2): When the employee is standing or walking on a surface which the employer demonstrates is free from engulfment hazards, the lifeline or alternative means may be disconnected or removed. The employer failed to protect employees from potential engulfment hazards associated with entering grain bins without being equipped with rescue equipment, such as a full body harness with lifeline. This was most recently evident during the inspection of the facility located at 112 N Arapahoe, Wauneta, NE 69045, where the employer had an employee enter Bin #7 without wearing a full body harness with lifeline, without a lifeline attached to the harness rescue teams resorted to cutting into the bottom of the bin to rescue the employee and ultimately he was buried alive and found dead from asphyxiation.