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29 CFR 1910.272 Grain Handling Facilities
29 CFR 1910.272 Grain Handling Facilities
(a) Scope. This section contains requirements for the control of grain dust fires and explosions, and certain
other safety hazards associated with grain handling facilities. It applies in addition to all other relevant provisions of
Part 1910 (or Part 1917 at marine terminals).
(b) Application.(1) Paragraphs (a) through (n) of this section apply to grain elevators, feed mills, flour
mills, rice mills, dust pelletizing plants, dry corn mills, soybean flaking operations, and the dry grinding operations
of soycake.
(2) Paragraphs (o), (p), and (q) of this section apply only to grain elevators.
(c) Definitions.
"Choked leg" means a condition of material buildup in the bucket elevator that results in the stoppage of material
flow and bucket movement. A bucket elevator is not considered choked that has the up-leg partially or fully loaded
and has the boot and discharge cleared allowing bucket movement.
"Flat storage structure" means a grain storage building or structure that will not empty completely by gravity, has an
unrestricted ground level opening for entry, and must be entered to reclaim the residual grain using powered
equipment or manual means.
"Fugitive grain dust" means combustible dust particles, emitted from the stock handling system, of such size as will
pass through a U.S. Standard 40 mesh sieve (425 microns or less).
"Grain elevator" means a facility engaged in the receipt, handling, storage, and shipment of bulk raw agricultural
commodities such as corn, wheat, oats, barley, sunflower seeds, and soybeans.
"Hot work" means work involving electric or gas welding, cutting, brazing, or similar flame producing operations.
"Inside bucket elevator" means a bucket elevator that has the boot and more than 20 percent of the total leg height
(above grade or ground level) inside the grain elevator structure. Bucket elevators with leg casings that are inside
(and pass through the roofs) of rail or truck dump sheds with the remainder of the leg outside of the grain elevator
structure, are not considered inside bucket elevators.
"Jogging" means repeated starting and stopping of drive motors in an attempt to clear choked legs.
"Lagging" means a covering on drive pulleys used to increase the coefficient of friction between the pulley and the
belt.
"Permit" means the written certification by the employer authorizing employees to perform identified work
operations subject to specified precautions.
(d) Emergency action plan. The employer shall develop and implement an emergency action plan meeting
the requirements contained in 1910.38(a).
(e)

Training.
(e)(1) The employer shall provide training to employees at least annually and when changes in job
assignment will expose them to new hazards. Current employees, and new employees prior to starting work, shall be
trained in at least the following:
(e)(1)(i) General safety precautions associated with the facility, including recognition and preventive
measures for the hazards related to dust accumulations and common ignition sources such as smoking; and,
(e)(1)(ii) Specific procedures and safety practices applicable to their job tasks including but not limited to,
cleaning procedures for grinding equipment, clearing procedures for choked legs, housekeeping procedures, hot
work procedures, preventive maintenance procedures and lock-out/tag-out procedures.
(e)(2) Employees assigned special tasks, such as bin entry and handling of flammable or toxic substances,
shall be provided training to perform these tasks safely. Note to paragraph (e)(2): Training for an employee who enters grain storage structures includes training about
engulfment and mechanical hazards and how to avoid them.
(f) Hot work permit.
(f)(1) The employer shall issue a permit for all hot work, with the following exceptions:
(f)(1)(i) Where the employer or the employer's representative (who would otherwise authorize the permit)
is present while the hot work is being performed;
(f)(1)(ii) In welding shops authorized by the employer;
(f)(1)(iii) In hot work areas authorized by the employer which are located outside of the grain handling
structure.
(f)(2) The permit shall certify that the requirements contained in 1910.252(a) have been implemented prior
to beginning the hot work operations. The permit shall be kept on file until completion of the hot work operations.
(g) Entry into grain storage structures. This paragraph applies to employee entry into bins, silos , tanks, and
other grain storage structures. Exception: Entry through unrestricted ground level openings into flat storage
structures in which there are no toxicity, flammability, oxygen-deficiency, or other atmospheric hazards is covered
by paragraph (h) of this section. For the purposes of this paragraph (g), the term "grain" includes raw and processed
grain and grain products in facilities within the scope of paragraph (b)(1) of this section.
(g)(1) The following actions shall be taken before employees enter bins, silos, or tanks:
(g)(1)(i) The employer shall issue a permit for entering bins, silos, or tanks unless the employer or the
employer's representative (who would otherwise authorize the permit) is present during the entire operation. The
permit shall certify that the precautions contained in this paragraph (1910.272(g)) have been implemented prior to
employees entering bins, silos or tanks. The permit shall be kept on file until completion of the entry operations.
(g)(1)(ii) All mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, and pneumatic equipment which presents a danger to
employees inside grain storage structures shall be deenergized and shall be disconnected, locked-out and tagged,
blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods.
(g)(1)(iii) The atmosphere within a bin, silo, or tank shall be tested for the presence of combustible gases,
vapors, and toxic agents when the employer has reason to believe they may be present. Additionally, the atmosphere
within a bin, silo, or tank shall be tested for oxygen content unless there is continuous natural air movement or
continuous forced-air ventilation before and during the period employees are inside. If the oxygen level is less than
19.5%, or if combustible gas or vapor is detected in excess of 10% of the lower flammable limit, or if toxic agents
are present in excess of the ceiling values listed in Subpart Z of 29 CFR Part 1910, or if toxic agents are present in
concentrations that will cause health effects which prevent employees from effecting self-rescue or communication
to obtain assistance, the following provisions apply.
(g)(1)(iii)(A) Ventilation shall be provided until the unsafe condition or conditions are eliminated, and the
ventilation shall be continued as long as there is a possibility of recurrence of the unsafe condition while the bin,
silo, or tank is occupied by employees.
(g)(1)(iii)(B) If toxicity or oxygen deficiency cannot be eliminated by ventilation, employees entering the
bin, silo, or tank shall wear an appropriate respirator. Respirator use shall be in accordance with the requirements of
1910.134.
(g)(1)(iv) "Walking down grain" and similar practices where an employee walks on grain to make it flow
within or out from a grain storage structure, or where an employee is on moving grain, are prohibited.
(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.
(g)(3) An observer, equipped to provide assistance, shall be stationed outside the bin, silo, or tank being
entered by an employee. Communications (visual, voice, or signal line)