Developed by: Purdue University Agricultural Safety and Health Program Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering West Lafayette, IN

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1 Developed by: Purdue University Agricultural Safety and Health Program Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering West Lafayette, IN This material was produced under grant number SH23575SH2 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. It does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsements by the U.S. Government. 1

2 Identify key terms related to agricultural confined spaces Identify the typical types of confined spaces found in agricultural workplaces Identify the hazards related to agricultural confined spaces Review the Federal OSHA safety and health standards relevant to agricultural confined spaces Explain the difference between OSHA exempt and nonexempt confined spaces Identify work practices that reduce the risk of agricultural confined space related injuries 2

3 Any space found in an agricultural workplace that was not designed or intended as a regular workstation, has limited or restricted means of entry or exit, and has associated with it potential physical and/or toxic hazards to workers who intentionally or unintentionally enter the space. 3

4 A Confined Space: is large enough for an employee to enter fully and perform assigned work has a limited or restricted means of entry or exit is not designed for continuous employee occupancy 4

5 A Permit Required Confined Space has one or more of the following: Contains or has the potential to contain a hazardous atmosphere Contains a material with the potential to engulf someone Has an internal configuration that might cause an entrant to be trapped or asphyxiated by inwardly converging walls or by a floor that slopes downward and tapers to a smaller cross section Contains any other recognized serious safety or health concerns 5

6 Examples: Grain bin Silo Manure storage facilities Hopper bottom feed bin Grain transport vehicle Septic tank Fertilizer storage tank Fermentation tank Other 6

7 Farm Grain Storage and Grain Leg Operation 7

8 Large Scale Commercial Grain Operation 8

9 Hopper Bottom Feed/Grain Bin 9

10 Commercial Seed Corn Operation 10

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12 Silos Concrete Poured Silo Oxygen-limiting silo Concrete Stave Silo 12

13 Flat Storage Outside Pile Flat Storage Building 13

14 Grain Carts Hopper Bottom Semi Rail cars Portable grinder mixer 14

15 In floor auger Portable grain auger Stirrator Sweep auger Belt Conveyor 15

16 Manure Storage Facilities Below ground pit Above ground storage tank Lagoon 16

17 1. Entrapments requiring extrication from flowable agricultural materials 2. Engulfments fully buried in flowable agricultural material 3. Entanglements in energized machinery 4. Asphyxiation due to exposure to toxic environments Carbon Dioxide Methane Hydrogen Sulfide (manure) Ammonia (manure) Smoke/Carbon monoxide (fires) Silo gas 5. Suffocation due to oxygen limited environments 6. Falls 7. Electrocutions 8. Drowning 9. Respiratory distress due to exposure to dust and microtoxins 10. Burns from fires and explosions 17

18 29 CFR Permit-required confined space standard Exempts agriculture 29 CFR Grain handling standard Covers all commercial grain storage and handling operations Original focus on preventing grain dust explosions Exempts farms, feedlots, and certain seed processing operations Takes precedence over CFR

19 Federal OSHA does not have enforcement jurisdiction over local government entities such as local fire departments Some OSHA State Plans cover emergency workers Prudent employers would preplan to assure that local emergency services have the needed equipment and trained personnel if relying on those services to conduct a rescue 19

20 Need for Emergency Action Plan Need for appropriate personal protective equipment Need for emergency response team Preplanning 20

21 The OSHA Grain Handling Standard ( ) currently exempts from compliance certain farming operations: Farms with 10 or fewer employed Feedlots Operations that prepare seeds for future crops The OSHA Permit required Confined Spaces Standard ( ) generally exempts agricultural operations that: Grow or harvest crops Raise livestock or poultry 21

22 Over half of all grain storage capacity in the U.S. is currently exempt from OSHA compliance. Historically, about 70% of all documented grain related entrapments have occurred at exempt facilities. Exempt facilities are less prepared to respond to an emergency Trained personnel Access to rescue equipment Workplace safety rules in place Developed emergency management plan 22

23 Confined space entry permit system Appropriate confined space entry equipment Lifeline and harnesses Air monitoring equipment Communication system Emergency action plan Documented training Incident reporting policies in place 23

24 Both volunteer and paid responders should comply with OSHA standards where applicable, regardless of OSHA jurisdiction Volunteer responders to exempt facilities should still follow all applicable OSHA confined space rules Volunteer emergency first responders may not be considered public sector employees under OSHA provisions Paid responders to non exempt facilities may not be covered by OSHA Confined Space Rules, but should comply Provisions are provided in the regulations for a timely response Responding agencies should develop an SOP for responses 24

25 Addressing conflict over rescue strategies 25

26 Every worker deserves a safe and healthy workplace and the opportunity to go home at the end of the day. The priority at grain storage and handling facilities should be on preventing situations that require an emergency response. Emergency first responders should not be expected to fix a problem that should have been prevented. 26

27 Develop a culture of safety and health It starts at the top Involves everyone Is clearly communicated Identify hazards/threats Conduct assessments Encourage reporting of hazards Train workers to identify hazards Remove or isolate hazards Guards, railings Use appropriate personal protective equipment 27

28 Workers are entitled to working conditions that do not pose a risk of serious harm. To help assure a safe and healthful workplace, OSHA also provides workers with the right to: Ask OSHA to inspect their workplace; Use their rights under the law without retaliation and discrimination; Receive information and training about hazards, methods to prevent harm, and the OSHA standards that apply to their workplace. The training must be in a language you can understand; Get copies of test results done to find hazards in the workplace; Review records of work-related injuries and illnesses; Get copies of their medical records; For more information, visit the OSHA.gov website. 28

29 You have these options to file your safety and health complaint: Online - Go to the Online Complaint Form at Download and Fax/Mail - Download the OSHA compliant form* [En Espanol*] Telephone - your local OSHA Regional or Area Office. OSHA staff can discuss your complaint and respond to any questions you have. If there is an emergency or the hazard is immediately lifethreatening, call your local OSHA Regional or Area Office or OSHA. 29

30 Dr. Bill Field (765) Steve Wettschurack (765)

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