Text For Citation: 02 Item/Group: 002A 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. The employer is failing to prevent employee exposure to grain engulfment hazards associated with grain bin entry to include cleaning activities. The condition was most recently observed on January 2, 2018, at 5755 S Hoover Rd., Wichita, Kansas. Employees entered grain bin 1100 without a lifeline connected to their body harnesses to break apart a blockage in the drain hole with approximately 4000 bushels of soybeans. Employees were able to sink greater than waist deep into soybeans without a non-entry retrieval mechanism.