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DAVID YENNI, 13 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 4:20 p.m. on August 11, 2009, Employee #1, who was employed by a wheat and barley producer, was unloading wheat at a dairy and poultry food processing company. Employee #1 was unloading wheat from the second "bottom dump" trailer of his truck, which was manually opened at the side of the trailer. Employee #1 heard his 13-year-old son yelling and immediately closed the bottom opening of the trailer. He ran to top of the trailer, where he saw his son engulfed by the funnel-shaped grains, with only his hand visible. Rescue efforts proved futile, and the boy was pronounced dead, after he was finally freed from the grains through the bottom of the trailer. The Petaluma Fire Department reported the incident to the Division.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Petaluma, CA
JOSHUA LUEBKE, 14 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1, 14 years old, was working in a bean hopper and was pulled into the beans while they were being drawn out the bottom of the hopper. He suffocated to death.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $15,500
After appeal: $12,000 (22% reduction)
near Barney, ND
WYATT WHITEBREAD, 14 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 9:56 a.m. on July 28, 2010, three employees were emptying a 500,000-bushel steel plate corn storage bin at a grain elevator. Employee #1 became caught in the corn flowing into the second of two bin bottom dump points emptying into a conveyor below the bin. Three other workers nearby, Employee #2, Employee #3, and a coworker, attempted to free Employee #1. When the workers trying to rescue Employee #1 recognized that their attempt was futile, Employee #3 ordered the coworker, who was nearest the exit ladder, to exit and notify the control room to stop the conveyors and to call emergency medical services and the elevator manager. The coworker did so, while Employees #2 and #3 continued trying to rescue Employee #1. Employee #1 was totally engulfed, and Employee #2 was engulfed up to his neck. Employee #3 was engulfed up to his shoulders. He could still move his arms, so he kept trying to rescue Employee #2. He did this by manually moving flowing corn away from Employee #2's face in an attempt to maintain an airway. Once the conveyor was stopped, corn continued to flow to a settling trickle. By this time, Employee #2 was totally engulfed. Employee #3 continued moving corn to maintain his own airway until emergency medical services arrived and secured him by tying him off. Employee #3 survived his engulfment. He was rescued and airlifted to a trauma unit at approximately 4:15 p.m. Two of the three engulfed employees were suffocated and died onsite. The bodies of Employee #1 and Employee #2 were recovered at 10:15 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. the same day. The workers were not trained in the hazards associated with grain bin entry, in the required use of PPE, or in the general safety requirements of the facility. Dust masks were the only PPE in use. Language was not an issue. A fifth bin worker was not involved. The elevator manager was working alone in an adjacent bin with a sweep auger.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $555,000
After appeal: $200,000 (63% reduction)
near Mount Carroll, IL
JUSTIN YOST, 15 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1, age 15, was atop a railroad car watching the unloading of corn from the center bin compartment. He was last seen sitting on the edge of the compartment with his legs hanging freely in the bin. Employee #1 apparently lost his balance, fell into the compartment, and was pulled under the flowing corn in the bin. He died of suffocation. There were no witnesses to the fall.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $420
After appeal: $420
near Pocatello, ID
DUSTIN J MORRIS, 17 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1, age 17, climbed on top of a rail car of corn after he had opened its bottom hopper to unload the grain. He was found about one hour later with his legs hanging from the bottom of the hopper. Employee #1 had fallen into the rail car and suffocated.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $3,510
After appeal: $2,150 (38% reduction)
near Decatur, TX
RENE GUAPOMUNIZ, 17 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 and two coworkers entered a grain storage tank from the ground level, climbing the sloping grain to a height of about 20 ft to clear the tank walls. The tank measured 117 by 72 ft and was approximately 1/3 full of millet. The two coworkers brushed the walls and threw the sour grain chuck down to Employee #1, who was located below. The operator, who was positioned at the control panel outside the tank, started the underground auger conveyor and opened one of the gates on the floor of the tank to permit the grain to flow into the conveyor. Employee #1 got too close to the gate and effectively had the floor cut out from under him. The resulting slide of grain from above buried him, and he died of asphyxiation. Causal factors include: lack of employee training in bin entry procedures, lack of effective lockout/tagout procedures, and lack of a lifeline or restraining device to prevent an employee from sinking into the grain.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $2,960
After appeal: $1,925 (34% reduction)
near Celina, TX
MICHAEL BASHORE, 17 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On June 14, 2001, Employee #1 and two other employees were unloading a railcar of wheat. The plant manager was operating a small belt conveyor to unload the car on one side. The other employee was watching the grain process from the opposite side of the car. The manager heard something and stopped the operation. He went to the other side of the railcar to locate Employee #1, the young summer helper. The two employees went to the top of the car where they found the safety glasses of Employee #1 lying on the railcar catwalk. They could not see him or get a response from calling so they opened the car dump and pushed it along the track to get the grain out faster. They then saw the legs of Employee #1. He had fallen into the grain hopper and was buried in grain. The manager summoned emergency medical services. The paramedics arrived and transported him to the hospital, but he died the next day.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $5,000
After appeal: $5,000
near Julesburg, CO
CODY RIGSBY, 17 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“About 12:45 PM on May 29, 2009, [foreman] Levi Bachmann told Cody Rigsby and another boy to enter Bin 21 to clean it out. Levi Bachmann allowed Cody Rigsby to enter Bin 21 despite knowing that the bucket elevator was not locked out and grain was flowing from the bin. While inside the bin, Cody Rigsby was engulfed by the flowing grain and sucked under where he died of asphyxiation. Despite the efforts of Cody Rigsby's co-workers, they were unable to locate and rescue him. This fatality was preventable and occurred due to the lack of safety and health training, personnel protective and rescue equipment, unsafe work procedures and a lack of on-site emergency responders. Via court documents.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,592,500
After appeal: $50,000 (96% reduction)
near Wiley, CO
OSCAR LEON MOORE JR, 18 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1, a laborer, was shoveling corn into a silo chute inside a corn bin that measured 42 ft diameter and 34 ft 5 in. high. The gravity-fed auger at the bottom of the bin was running, but jammed. Employee #1 was using a piece of PVC to dislodge the area over the auger. He was standing over the auger on the corn and pushing down. The auger opening was 12 in. square with an 8 in. tube auger 12 in. below floor level. The corn was about 7 ft deep in the center over the auger. Employee #1 began to sink into the corn. Rescue attempts were unsuccessful and Employee #1 suffocated and died. There appear to be training inadequacies, lockout was not used before clearing the jam, and the auger was not guarded. The running auger was vibrating the bin.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $30,625
After appeal: $12,250 (60% reduction)
near Sumter, SC
JASON BRANDENBERG, 18 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On September 24, 2002, an employee was working inside a grain bin while the unloading auger conveyor was running. He became caught and was pulled into the grain. The employee died of asphyxia. The auger conveyor was not locked-out at the time of the accident.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $25,875
After appeal: $25,875
near Lake Crystal, MN
JOSEPH TEAGUE, 18 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On May 7, 2007, Employee #1 and Employee #2 were cleaning a grain bin. The employees entered the grain bin to shovel millet to the center of the bin. Employee #1 and Employee #2 were aware that the auger was running, while the employees were inside of the grain bin. The flow of grain had slowed. Employee #2 exited the bin to go below to the auger and clear what he believed to be a clog. The supervisor was involved in a second task, when Employee #2 exited the bin. The running auger created a condition where the grain was flowing, and Employee #1 became caught in the flow and was pulled under the millet. Employee #2 returned to the bin. The supervisor asked where Employee #1 was located. After a search of the area, they determined that the millet had engulfed Employee #1. The employee was located under the millet by Emergency Services and the Sheriffs Department's personnel approximately 30 minutes after the accident occurred. The official cause of death was ruled as asphyxiation. There was no restraint or retrieval equipment available at the site to keep the employee from being fully engulfed or to assist with pulling Employee #1 from the grain bin.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $130,050
After appeal: $50,000 (61% reduction)
near Sidney, NE
THOMAS EDWARD OSIER, 18 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Gibson Township Fire Chief Dan Chapman said Osier entered into the silo from an access point on the ground for a work-related reason and corn began to fall on top of him. At about 9 a.m., a call came in to Bay County Central Dispatch that the teen was trapped under the corn inside the silo. Chapman said the teen was trapped for about four hours, before his body was recovered. A medical examiner pronounced him dead at the scene. Via MLive.com
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $7,000
After appeal: $3,500 (50% reduction)
near Standish, MI
WILLIAM J. YATES, 19 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“ON JANUARY 29, 1986, EMPLOYEE #1 WAS BREAKING UP A "HOT SPOT" IN A STEEL STORAGE BIN FULL OF CORN. GRAIN WAS BEING EMPTIED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BIN AT THE SAME TIME HE WAS WORKING ON THE CORN'S SURFACE. THE GRAIN UNDER HIS FEET FLOWED INWARD AND PULLED HIM UNDER THE SURFACE. HE SUFFOCATED. HE HAD NO SAFETY BELT, WAS NOT TIED OFF, NOR WAS PROVIDED ANY OTHER TYPE OF PROTECTION.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $640
After appeal: Unknown
near Delaware, OH
CHARLES P HAYES, 19 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 10:30 a.m. on October 22, 1993, Employee #1, along with two coworkers, entered a silo filled with corn kernels. The kernels had accumulated in the silo to the height of approximately 33 to 35 feet. The employees were to walk on the kernels to push them down. This process is known as "walking down the corn." The auger in the silo continued to operate while the employees walked down the corn. The wall of kernels caved in, burying Employee #1. The coworkers attempted to rescue him, but were not successful. There was no retrieval system in place for this kind of rescue effort and the employees were not trained in the specific procedures and safety practices of this task.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $530,000
After appeal: $42,000 (92% reduction)
near Defuniak Springs, FL
NICHOLAS GARA, 19 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 had apparently climbed on top of a hopper while beans were being unloaded, but no one saw him there. About 15 minutes later, the beans plugged up and coworkers saw a shoe in the hopper. They tried to unload the hopper quickly and retrieve Employee #1, but he had suffocated.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,950
After appeal: $1,425 (26% reduction)
near Sharon Springs, KS
JUSTIN MINES, 19 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At 10:30 a.m. on February 21, 2002, Employee #1 and Employee #2 of Silver Lake Welding Service, Incorporated were working inside feed bin number 17 repairing worn metal plating on the walls. The air actuated slide gate for bin number 17 was opened, releasing its contents of approximately 12 feet in depth grain with two employees caught in the grain. The older employee was pulled under the grain first with his legs partially exposed out the slide gate opening. The other employee also pulled under the grain was wedged in on top of the older employee, preventing the two from coming on through the slide gate opening. A truck driver called for medical assistance. The Elkin Rescue Service arrived at the accident site and found one of the employees for Silver Lake Welding Service, Incorporated using a cutting torch to make a 36-inch-square large hole opening to help free the two trapped employees. The older employee was partially removed up to his chest by the time the second Elkin Rescue Service member arrived on site. The Elkin Rescue Service, at the top of the feed mill bins, observed that the hand operated, Model 482, hoist, with PN A7332, was set in place above the entrance into feed bin Number 17. A boatswain chair and swing seat was attached by a 0.375-inch diameter metal cable to the hoist. The boatswain chair and swing seat had been lowered into feed bin Number 17. The 0.375-inch diameter metal cable for personnel live line rescue was attached around one of the metal angle iron post used to support the feed inlet pipes used to transfer feed grain. There were three electric cords running into feed bin Number 17. One cord was for a stick welder, one for an explosion-proof light, and one for a portable grinder. A vent hose was lying next to the entrance of feed bin Number 17, but not inside the bin. There were two ladders in use at the time of the accident. The metal fixed-rung ladder was hung over the entrance into the feed bin Number 17, and the fiberglass extension ladder was inside feed bin Number 17 at the time of the accident. The Elkin Rescue Service members removed the two employees from the bottom of feed bin Number 17 at the pneumatic actuated slide gate opening cut open by one of Silver Lake Welding Service employees. The pneumatic-actuated slide gate door opening after being cut was pulled back out of the way by the Elkin Rescue Service with a portable hand hoist. Due to the two employees being wedge in on top of one another it took the Emergency Services approximately 3 hours to free them. Employee #1 and Employee #2 were treated by the Emergency Medical Services and died from asphyxia before being transported to Northern Surry Hospital in Mount Airy.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $7,700
After appeal: $2,800 (63% reduction)
near Elkin, NC
RICKY ALLEN POINEAU, 19 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On May 31, 2008, Employee #1 was checking the opening at the top of a railway car hopper. He fell into the corn at the bottom of the hopper and was asphyxiated.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,500
After appeal: $900 (40% reduction)
near Carrollton, MI
SEAN P. BANKS, 19 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 2:00 p.m. on June 24, 2010, Employees #1 and #2 were working at a truck loading facility. The facility specialized in the distribution of wheat through trucks. As Employee #2 checked with Employee #1, to see if he needed a break, three bins located on the south side of the facility ruptured/opened up and wheat spilled out onto the truck dump area. Employees #1 and #2 were engulfed by the wheat, as well as the structure's debris, and died due to asphyxiation. Approximately three hours later the bodies of Employees #1 and #2 were recovered from underneath a semi-truck, which had been at the dumping site.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $9,500
After appeal: $8,075 (15% reduction)
near Russell, KS
ALEX PACAS, 19 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 9:56 a.m. on July 28, 2010, three employees were emptying a 500,000-bushel steel plate corn storage bin at a grain elevator. Employee #1 became caught in the corn flowing into the second of two bin bottom dump points emptying into a conveyor below the bin. Three other workers nearby, Employee #2, Employee #3, and a coworker, attempted to free Employee #1. When the workers trying to rescue Employee #1 recognized that their attempt was futile, Employee #3 ordered the coworker, who was nearest the exit ladder, to exit and notify the control room to stop the conveyors and to call emergency medical services and the elevator manager. The coworker did so, while Employees #2 and #3 continued trying to rescue Employee #1. Employee #1 was totally engulfed, and Employee #2 was engulfed up to his neck. Employee #3 was engulfed up to his shoulders. He could still move his arms, so he kept trying to rescue Employee #2. He did this by manually moving flowing corn away from Employee #2's face in an attempt to maintain an airway. Once the conveyor was stopped, corn continued to flow to a settling trickle. By this time, Employee #2 was totally engulfed. Employee #3 continued moving corn to maintain his own airway until emergency medical services arrived and secured him by tying him off. Employee #3 survived his engulfment. He was rescued and airlifted to a trauma unit at approximately 4:15 p.m. Two of the three engulfed employees were suffocated and died onsite. The bodies of Employee #1 and Employee #2 were recovered at 10:15 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. the same day. The workers were not trained in the hazards associated with grain bin entry, in the required use of PPE, or in the general safety requirements of the facility. Dust masks were the only PPE in use. Language was not an issue. A fifth bin worker was not involved. The elevator manager was working alone in an adjacent bin with a sweep auger.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Mount Carroll, IL
JAMIE J DEROUCHEY, 20 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was working in a grain bin to free a choked auger. He was pulled into the grain and was buried. Employee #1 died of suffocation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $5,500
After appeal: $2,750 (50% reduction)
near Saint Lawrence, SD
JASON BROOKS, 20 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employees #1 and #2 were scraping and removing caked meal from the sides of a soy meal bin. When they finished this work, they went over to the corn bin. The BIN FULL switch had been manually activated, presumably by one of the two workers. Employee #1 entered or fell into the corn bin first, followed by Employee #2. A coworker who was investigating activation of the switch saw Employee #2 being engulfed in grain and threw him a rope. Employee #2 could not hold on and was buried in the grain. As this was occurring, both corn and soy meal were being drawn off the bottom of the bins. Finally, a hole was cut in the bottom of the corn bin, and the bodies of Employees #1 and #2 were recovered. They died of asphyxia. Neither employee was attached to any sort of lifeline.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $129,150
After appeal: $52,500 (59% reduction)
near Juniata, NE
RYAN TRUESDELL, 20 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 10:09 a.m. on August 14, 2007, an employee entered a bin while the conveyor beneath was running to remove bridging or corn. The employee became engulfed in grain, asphyxiated and killed.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $26,500
After appeal: $26,500
near Glenville, MN
MATTHEW BALL, 20 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Six contracted employees were engaged in cleaning a soybean bin of the host employer elevator. Four of these employees entered the soybean grain silo in order to remove the remaining soybeans and other material from the bottom of the bin. One employee acted as the attendant at the side entrance portal. Another employee stayed outside at the bottom of the bin to operate a slide gate discharge door. Employees #1 and three coworkers entered the bin to push soybeans and other material toward the discharge chute. Employee #1 stood next to the discharge chute. Two coworkers stood by the soybeans in the bin while the last employee was moving around the outer edge of the bin dislodging small areas of soybeans. The three coworkers were using shovels and potato forks to dislodge and push the soybeans and other material toward the discharge chute by Employee #1. Two employees uncovered an area that connected the bin being cleaned to an adjoining interstice bin. Soybeans from the interstice bin began to flow very rapidly. Due to the angled floor of the bin, the flowing soybeans naturally moved to the discharge chute. Employee #1 was swept off his feet and into the discharge chute. The discharge chute led to the drag conveyor that fed the grain dryer. Employee #1 was engulfed by the soybeans. One employee closed the slide gate, trapping Employee #1's foot in the gate. The five remaining contract employees and the host employer's rescue personnel were unable to remove Employee #1. The discharge slide gate was reopened, causing Employee #1 to move further down the chute. Employee #1 suffocated before the discharge chute could be removed by the host employer. Employee #1 was wearing a fall arrest harness but did not attach the harness and lanyard to the lifeline. Employee #1 died. Employee #2 broke his collar bone due to the strain of pulling on the shoulder strap of Employee #1's harness. The surviving employees were taken to the hospital for observation. Only Employee #2 was hospitalized for one night.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $111,600
After appeal: $31,500 (71% reduction)
near Goldfield, IA
GARY JAMES COOK, 21 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“EMPLOYEE #1 ENTERED A HOPPER-BOTTOMED GRAIN BIN FROM A SIDE OPENING TO SWEEP THE REMAINNG GRAIN THROUGH THE DRAW-OFF OPENING AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BIN. AFTER EMPLOYEE #1 ENTERED THE BIN, HE WAS COVERED BY FLOWING GRAIN AND SUBSEQUENTLY SUFFOCATED.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $630
After appeal: $315 (50% reduction)
near Levant, KS
VERNON P SEHNERT, 21 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“EMPLOYEE #1 WAS SENT INTO A GRAIN ELEVATOR STORAGE TANK TO FREE A CLOGGED DRAG CONVEYOR. HE WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH A SAFETY HARNESS. HE WAS PULLED INTO THE FLOWING GRAIN, BURIED AND SUFFOCATED.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $9,170
After appeal: $1,890 (79% reduction)
near Vienna, SD
JEREMY JOHNSTON, 21 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On July 28, 1998, Employee #1 and a few other employees were mixing feed and oats from Bin Number 7, a wooden bin located inside the mill building. The employees inserted a rod into the discharge spout at the bottom of the bin to break oats free. When this no longer worked and no oats would come out of the spout, Employee #1 climbed to the top of the bin. Once on top, access into the bin was by means of a series of ladder rungs built into the corner of the bin. As Employee #1 entered the opening at the top of the bin, the top rung of the ladder apparently pulled away from the wall and Employee #1 fell approximately 29 feet to the bottom of the bin. The employee was found covered with grain and died from asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $40,650
After appeal: $15,000 (63% reduction)
near Hillsboro, OH
JOE HOFFMAN, 21 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was assigned to grain Bin Number 4 and was told twice not to enter Bin Number 5. Bin Number 5 had approximately 2 ft or 4,000 bushels of grain in it. Employee #1 without informing anyone entered Bin Number 5 and was engulfed by the grain. Employee #1 died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Green Springs, OH
CLAY HOWARD, 21 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 died from asphyxiation when he entered grain storage area and suffocated in a pile of beans.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $375
After appeal: $375
near Goodland, KS
CEDRIC SMART, 21 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On November 10, 2004, five employees were inside a storage silo shoveling corn. As the crew worked, the corn engulfed two employees. One employee was freed, and the other died from asphyxia. The remaining three employees were unharmed.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $5,250
After appeal: $3,675 (30% reduction)
near Winnsboro, LA
MAX S. GREVE, 21 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 2:00 p.m. on June 24, 2010, Employees #1 and #2 were working at a truck loading facility. The facility specialized in the distribution of wheat through trucks. As Employee #2 checked with Employee #1, to see if he needed a break, three bins located on the south side of the facility ruptured/opened up and wheat spilled out onto the truck dump area. Employees #1 and #2 were engulfed by the wheat, as well as the structure's debris, and died due to asphyxiation. Approximately three hours later the bodies of Employees #1 and #2 were recovered from underneath a semi-truck, which had been at the dumping site.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Russell, KS
DENNIS THOMAS JR, 22 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 and a coworker had jumped into an open bin containing grass seed. They were attempting to kick out a "bridge" that had formed below the surface and was interrupting the seed flow from the bin to an auger conveyor. After they had broken down the bridged seed, a funneling effect was created. Employee #1 became engulfed and buried by the seed as it funneled toward the conveyor. He died.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $21,000
After appeal: $12,900 (38% reduction)
near Junction City, OR
JASON RADER, 22 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“A semi-truck was being unloaded when the bin-full alarm went off at the control station. The controller stated that when the alarm goes off there is usually about 3 ft remaining in the bin to be filled. Because the semi-truck still had cotton seed to be unloaded, the controller requested Employee #1 to go to the head house, verify how much more cotton seed the bin would take, and let him know, which he did via radio. After some time passed, coworkers realized that Employee #1 was missing. A search of the facility turned up nothing. A crew went to Employee #1's last known location and started searching again. After some time had passed, they decided to drain the bin. Employee #1 came out with the cotton seed. He had died of asphyxiation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $13,750
After appeal: $6,875 (50% reduction)
near Hillsboro, KS
JASON HISER NO INJU, 22 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On May 19, 2000, an employee was loading corn into a semi-truck from a grain elevator when he disappeared. His absence was noticed when the grain stopped flowing into the truck bed. Other employees at the site searched for the missing employee and found him inside the grain bin engulfed by the grain. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the coroner.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near MC Comb, OH
FRANKLIN SAMUEL SCOTT, 22 years old (link)
Accident Summary
OSHA accident investigation summary not available.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $28,000
After appeal: $19,600 (30% reduction)
near Kindred, ND
RICHARDO ROBLES, 23 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“EMPLOYEE #1 WAS STANDING ON TOP OF A RAILROAD CAR, DIRECTING A SPOUT TO FILL THE CAR WITH WHEAT GRAIN FROM AN ELEVATOR. THE EMPLOYEE FELL INTO THE 20 INCH WIDE OPENING USED FOR FILLING THE CAR. AS THE GRAIN CONTINUED FLOWING FROM THE SPOUT INTO THE CAR, HE WAS COVERED UP AND SUFFOCATED. THERE IS A GOOD PROBABILITY THAT HE HAD A SEIZURE WHICH CAUSED HIS FALL INTO THE CAR AND PREVENTED HIM FROM CRAWLING OR CLIMBING BACK OUT TO SAFETY. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Liberal, KS
MICHAEL BALLHEIM, 23 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employees #1 and #2 were scraping and removing caked meal from the sides of a soy meal bin. When they finished this work, they went over to the corn bin. The BIN FULL switch had been manually activated, presumably by one of the two workers. Employee #1 entered or fell into the corn bin first, followed by Employee #2. A coworker who was investigating activation of the switch saw Employee #2 being engulfed in grain and threw him a rope. Employee #2 could not hold on and was buried in the grain. As this was occurring, both corn and soy meal were being drawn off the bottom of the bins. Finally, a hole was cut in the bottom of the corn bin, and the bodies of Employees #1 and #2 were recovered. They died of asphyxia. Neither employee was attached to any sort of lifeline.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Juniata, NE
ROBERT M. ALCORTA, 23 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 4:45 p.m. on November 16, 2000, Employee #1, a lead warehouseman, and two coworkers entered bin #2 and were shoveling wheat midds from the upper sides of the bin toward the lower auger draw area. They had been working for approximately one hour when Employee #1 engaged in horseplay by jumping on the midds at the sides, breaking them loose, then riding the midds down toward the auger draw area. The last time he did this, he became stuck at about knee depth and couldn't free himself. The two coworkers tried to help extricate him, but were unsuccessful. By this time, Employee #1 was waist deep in the wheat midds and one of the coworkers went to shut off the auger and call 911. By the time the auger was shut down and the 911 call made, the second coworker had freed himself from the grain and exited the bin. He told the first coworker that Employee #1 had gone under and it was too late to save him. Employee #1 died of asphyxia. All three crew members had been in the space, standing on the wheat midds, without wearing safety belts and harnesses and without being tied off. Their entry into the space was not performed in accordance with either company or standard permit-required confined space entry protocols.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $4,500
After appeal: $1,300 (71% reduction)
near Slaton, TX
LUIS ANTONIO CHAVEZ, 23 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At 1:00 p.m. on March 1, 2011, Employee #1, a Farm/Cattle operator with DL Cattle, LLC, was working at company's grain storage bins. He entered a bin from the top to break up clumps in the grain while the auger was running. Employee #1 was engulfed in the grain. He died of asphyxiation before being extricated from the bin.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $185,600
After appeal: $64,000 (65% reduction)
near Parks, NE
CRAIG BERNIER, 24 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“An inspection by OSHA's Syracuse Area Office found that employees had not been trained on the hazards associated with entering a silo and were not equipped with an approved lifeline. In addition, the atmosphere inside the silo had not been sampled for oxygen deficiency and the energy source of the silo's augur had not been locked out prior to entry. OSHA news release
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $155,200
After appeal: Unknown
near Utica, NY
JEFF WOLFF, 25 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“EMPLOYEE #1 ENTERED THE TOP OF AN 80,000 BUSHEL GRAIN BIN WITHOUT SAFEGUARDS. HE SUFFOCATED WHEN THE SHELLED CORN COLLAPSED ON HIM, BURYING HIM.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $880
After appeal: $880
near Seymour, IN
PEREZ MARTIN, 25 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 11:00 a.m. on March 6, 1996, Employee #1 and two coworkers were unloading a grain bin. Employee #1 and one coworker climbed inside the bin to throw out a crusted layer while the other coworker operated a vacuum system. After one 1,500 bushel load, the coworker climbed out of the bin and started the vacuum again to fill the hopper of the auger. Inside the bin, Employee #1 was drawn down into the soybeans. He died of asphyxia. He was not wearing any safety equipment, nor did the employer have written safety programs or safety equipment.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $6,300
After appeal: $6,300
near Minneota, MN
SIMON COOPER, 25 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On November 10, 2006, two seasonal employees entered a flat storage structure onto a pile of grain that was approximately 10 ft deep. They intended to vacuum out 4 to 5 in. off the top of the grain. As the vacuum pulled the grain out of the structure, Employee #1 became engulfed and killed.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $6,000
After appeal: $6,000
near Shellsburg, IA
ROBERT BURNSIDE, 26 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On November 13, 1996, Employee #1 entered a grain storage structure. He was standing approximately 8 ft deep in corn, using a grain vacuum system to remove corn from around a bulkhead across the doorway. Employee #1 was vacuuming the material near his feet, when he apparently became trapped. The grain vacuum continued to remove the corn, causing him to sink further into the grain until he was buried. Employee #1 died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $7,500
After appeal: $5,000 (33% reduction)
near Sheldon, IL
STEVEN H WOOD, 27 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 and coworkers were trying to free up grain that had formed chunks, preventing it from flowing freely. He entered the grain bin while coworkers used a Vac-u-lutor to vacuum the grain from the bin. At approximately 7:00 p.m., a coworker underneath the hole at the bottom of the bin saw a body appear in the opening. The coworkers called for an ambulance and the rescue squad arrived in about 10 minutes. The rescue squad cut through the metal bin with a chain saw and removed Employee #1's body at 9:00 p.m.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $350
After appeal: $350
near Adrian, MO
RICHARD HYATT, 27 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employees #1 and #2 were cleaning a flat bottom grain bin using a front end loader. Employee #1 was operating the loader while Employee #2 watched. Employees #1 and #2 were found dead from asphyxia inside a chute leading to the drag conveyor.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $83,500
After appeal: $70,000 (16% reduction)
near Bloomingburg, OH
WILLIE JAMES BURNS, 27 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On May 18, 2002, two employees entered a grain storage bin by exterior ladder to free the flow of corn to the reclaim conveyor system located underneath the bin. Employee #1 used a rod to probe and clear the corn obstructing the gate to the system. A coworker observed the operation from a few feet away. When the obstruction cleared and the corn started to flow, Employee #1 began to be engulfed by the grain's downward flow. After recognizing the dangerous situation, the coworker immediately made his way to the bin's interior ladder, escaping the downward flow. After emerging from the bin, the coworker informed the facility manager of events. The manager immediately proceeded to conduct a rescue operation that failed and subsequently contacted Emergency Services before entering the bin a second time. Employee #1's body was retrieved by Emergency Services approximately two hours later.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $93,100
After appeal: $84,280 (9% reduction)
near Delhi, LA
JEFFERY L THONE, 28 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 8:15 a.m. on August 18, 1988, Employees #1 and #2 were assigned to clean out and sanitize a wob bin (a bin containing scrap from screened seed) in a wood elevator. When the material stopped flowing, the two employees went to the top of the bin, lowered a light into the bin, and noted that product was still in the bottom. A rope boom and air hose was dropped into the bin and Employee #1 climbed down nailed slats (rungs) spaced over 2 feet apart. He remained in the bin, holding the rope with one hand while standing and pushing the air hose into the material. Employee #2 went down the ladder to try to free the material from below by pushing into the flange, After Employee #2 heard an air noise and the sound of short material flow, he climbed to the top of the bin. He could see Employee #1's hands above the material, so he climbed into the bin. He could not pull or dig Employee #1 out, so he climbed out of the bin to get help. Employee #1 was killed. Employee #2 suffered from exhaustion from all the climbing and rescue work and was hospitalized for observation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $3,760
After appeal: $1,500 (60% reduction)
near Chilton, WI
DAVID GUAJARDO, 28 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1, a mill/loader operator, and a coworker entered the top of an approximately 30 ft deep by 10 ft square overhead grain storage bin that was approximately half full of fines (corn dust) to clean the inside of the bin and allow the fines to flow more freely. Employee #1 was observed standing on the corn dust near the center of the bin before the was pulled into the fines and buried. He died of asphyxia. The employer had not established bin entry procedures, and the employees did not use safety harnesses with lifelines. There was no observer stationed outside the bin, and there were no provisions for emergency rescue operations. Employee #1 had been working at the company for six months, all of them as a mill/loader operator.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,900
After appeal: $1,900
near Jetmore, KS
ALFRED WALKER, 28 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was standing on a pile of soybeans inside a hopper. He was clearing a chute that was clogged when he was engulfed by the soybeans. He died from asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $18,650
After appeal: $10,990 (41% reduction)
near Marianna, AR
TROY CHILDERS, 28 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee's #1 and a coworker were instructed to go into a metal bin filled with approximately 70,000 bushels of soy beans to unclog the under bin belt conveyor. The total capacity of the bin is approximately 250,000 bushel. The coworker entered the bin first and was using a piece of PVC piping to try and unclog the access gate to the under bin belt conveyor. Employee #1 entered and took over for the coworker. As both employees were still in the bin, Employee #1 broke through the access gate and the soybeans began to flow. Employee #1 was pulled into the access gate and the soybeans began to cover him. The coworker tried to pull Employee #1 out. The coworker almost got engulfed himself. Rescue crews arrived and cut holes in the sides of the bin to get to Employee #1. It took approximately 2 hours to 3 hours to free Employee #1. Employee #1 died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $16,800
After appeal: $11,000 (34% reduction)
near Seward, NE
WILLIAM L MACE, 28 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 8:00 a.m. On February 20, 2007, Employees #1 and #2 were standing on an outdoor corn storage pile using shovel and pipe to remove or break up clots to keep grain flowing through a ground level grate over the drag conveyor. Employees #1 and #2 were in radio contact with the employee manning the control panel for the conveyors. A radio distress call from Employee #1 to the control room operator indicated that the men were in the grain. The control room operator shut down the conveyor systems and ran to the corn pile, but no radio contact could be established with Employees #1 or #2. The control room operator changed frequencies and called for help on his radio and began climbing the corn pile. Employees #1 and #2 were not visible and assumed to be under the corn. One of the office staff heard the distress call and summoned emergency medical services. All employees who heard the call for help from the control room operator immediately responded to the corn pile. The area manager and a couple other employees climbed the pile and entered the inverted cone where grain had been removed. The men tried to rescue Employees #1 and #2, but the corn repeatedly rolled back into the cone. One of the laborers drove a truck over to the adjacent construction project where a dirt contractor was working to solicit help. The dirt contractor responded to the pile with all equipment and personnel to aid in rescue/recovery. The outdoor ground pile was 270 ft across and capable of storing 1,000,000 bushels of corn. The pile was round at the base and conical. The central tower and outer 4-ft bunker walls were controlled aeration and the moving air up the tower pulled the tarp closer to the corn and preventing wind from removing the tarp. The drag conveyor was operating while the employees were on top of the pile. No lifelines or other effective means to prevent them from sinking greater than waist deep in the corn were provided. On February 20, 2007, all employees attended confined space training from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. The confined space video shown to employees did not discuss or mention engulfment hazards. Employees were aware of engulfment hazards, but state that the one-half hour training session did not cover engulfment. This was Employee #2's second day of work. The one-half hour training session is the only training that Employee #2 received. The training is provided annually, but was specifically held February 20, 2007, because of Employee #2 (the new employee). It is believed that the half-empty pile still held approximately 500,000 bushels of corn. Management and responders estimated that the pile was about 20 ft where Employees #1 and #2 were working. Responders could not move the corn back by hand without it rolling back. The heavy equipment operators pulled grain away from the area the employees were believed to be. Two fire department personnel helped in recovery efforts wearing full body harness attached to the elevator leg/conveyor that lead to the pile. Both Employees #1 and #2 bodies were recovered more than 4 hours later, beneath 10 ft to 20 ft of corn.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Carrollton, MO
DOYLE GENE PIGG, 29 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 went to unclog an auger in a bin with a push rod. He was standing on or near the top rung of the bin's outside ladder and pushed the push rod into the fescue seed. As the auger began to move the fescue seed, Employee #1 was pulled or fell into the bin. The pocket in the seed gave way and Employee #1 suffocated and died.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $2,180
After appeal: $875 (59% reduction)
near Sikeston, MO
FERMIN R RIVERA, 29 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was working on top of a corn storage tank when he either fell into the storage tank or entered the tank, then fell below the top of the corn. He died of suffocation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $2,250
After appeal: $1,686 (25% reduction)
near Casa Grande, AZ
RICKY ALLEN SCHULTZ, 29 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On June 16, 1993, Employee #1, of the Frutchey Bean Company, was attempting to clean a silo that had soybeans stuck inside. He entered the adjacent silo and used a long rod to poke the soybeans loose. He was engulfed in the silo when the bridging condition collapsed. Employee #1 died. The employer received a serious citation for the violation of five rules.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,150
After appeal: $900 (21% reduction)
near Saginaw, MI
RANDALL ATWELL, 29 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 entered a grain car from the bottom to remove a fine particle sweetener grain called Harony from the walls. As he was hoeing the side walls of the car, surrounding grain cascaded on him, suffocating him to death. There was no fall protection, harness, lanyard, etc., and no witnesses.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $6,075
After appeal: $4,500 (25% reduction)
near Unadilla, NY
RAFAEL CASADROS, 29 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 3:45 p.m. on April 26, 2005, Employee #1 was shoveling grain located behind some flathouse doors. Employee #1 became engulfed by the grain and sunk to the spout region of the flathouse, where grain exits and enters on a conveyor belt. Coworkers attempted to rescue him, with no success. Emergency services were contacted, but before Employee #1 could be rescued he suffocated and died.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $120,500
After appeal: $69,300 (42% reduction)
near Brownsville, TX
ANTONIO LOPEZ, 29 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On March 30, 2009, a feed truck was found near a feed mill with its engine running. After a search for the driver, the feed yard manager found an open hatch on top of a corn bin for the flaking mill. The bin's contents were emptied by cutting a hole in the bottom. Employee #1 was found dead of asphyxia, lodged in the chute at the bottom of the bin and covered in corn. There were no witnesses who would admit seeing Employee #1 enter the bin or acting as a standby person.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $4,750
After appeal: $3,325 (30% reduction)
near Hart, TX
EDWARD NASERS, 30 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 4:30 p.m. on December 17, 1992, Employee #1 was monitoring the unloading system (two augers and the leg) for a grain tank. Employee #1 evidently climbed the exterior tank ladder, entered the tank through a top hatch, and was subsequently sucked into the grain. He died of asphyxiation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Worthington, MN
DAVID G HAMBLEN JR, 30 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 8:00 a.m. On February 20, 2007, Employees #1 and #2 were standing on an outdoor corn storage pile using shovel and pipe to remove or break up clots to keep grain flowing through a ground level grate over the drag conveyor. Employees #1 and #2 were in radio contact with the employee manning the control panel for the conveyors. A radio distress call from Employee #1 to the control room operator indicated that the men were in the grain. The control room operator shut down the conveyor systems and ran to the corn pile, but no radio contact could be established with Employees #1 or #2. The control room operator changed frequencies and called for help on his radio and began climbing the corn pile. Employees #1 and #2 were not visible and assumed to be under the corn. One of the office staff heard the distress call and summoned emergency medical services. All employees who heard the call for help from the control room operator immediately responded to the corn pile. The area manager and a couple other employees climbed the pile and entered the inverted cone where grain had been removed. The men tried to rescue Employees #1 and #2, but the corn repeatedly rolled back into the cone. One of the laborers drove a truck over to the adjacent construction project where a dirt contractor was working to solicit help. The dirt contractor responded to the pile with all equipment and personnel to aid in rescue/recovery. The outdoor ground pile was 270 ft across and capable of storing 1,000,000 bushels of corn. The pile was round at the base and conical. The central tower and outer 4-ft bunker walls were controlled aeration and the moving air up the tower pulled the tarp closer to the corn and preventing wind from removing the tarp. The drag conveyor was operating while the employees were on top of the pile. No lifelines or other effective means to prevent them from sinking greater than waist deep in the corn were provided. On February 20, 2007, all employees attended confined space training from approximately 7:30 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. The confined space video shown to employees did not discuss or mention engulfment hazards. Employees were aware of engulfment hazards, but state that the one-half hour training session did not cover engulfment. This was Employee #2's second day of work. The one-half hour training session is the only training that Employee #2 received. The training is provided annually, but was specifically held February 20, 2007, because of Employee #2 (the new employee). It is believed that the half-empty pile still held approximately 500,000 bushels of corn. Management and responders estimated that the pile was about 20 ft where Employees #1 and #2 were working. Responders could not move the corn back by hand without it rolling back. The heavy equipment operators pulled grain away from the area the employees were believed to be. Two fire department personnel helped in recovery efforts wearing full body harness attached to the elevator leg/conveyor that lead to the pile. Both Employees #1 and #2 bodies were recovered more than 4 hours later, beneath 10 ft to 20 ft of corn.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $189,000
After appeal: $61,000 (67% reduction)
near Carrollton, MO
RICK COOLING, 31 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“A stave-constructed concrete grain silo ruptured and collapsed, causing 23,000 bushels of grain to spill and bury Employee #1. He died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Durant, IA
DONALD HOLDRIDGE, 31 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“An employee was working at a grain elevator where corn was being moved from storage for shipment. The process uses a bottom drop which allows the corn to pass through a drain at the bottom of the storage area and to fall onto a conveyor. During the process, a large chunk blocked the drain and the employee climbed onto the pile to break up the chunk. When the clog broke, he was drawn down into, and buried under, the grain and suffocated.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $960
After appeal: $960
near Metamora, OH
MARK CORNISH, 31 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was in a grain bin unloading it with a vaculator. He was in the middle of the bin, sucking the grain from underneath himself, creating a hole in the middle of the grain. The grain on the sides of the bin flowed in and trapped Employee #1 under the grain. He died of suffocation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $450
After appeal: $300 (33% reduction)
near Adel, IA
WILLIE R SANDERS, 32 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Working alone, Employee #1 entered a grain storage silo containing cracked corn (corn screens) to break up a bridging condition. Corn had built up on the sides of the silo. The corn caved in on him and he died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $3,484
After appeal: $3,000 (13% reduction)
near Hartford, AL
VIRGIL L ZOGLMANN, 32 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was standing on a platform atop a bulk livestock feed truck, filling the center compartment of the truck from a chute that ran from a feed bin above the truck. He apparently fell into the compartment and was covered by livestock feed as it continued to flow into the truck. Employee #1 was found later, having died of suffocation. He was working alone at the time of the accident.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $720
After appeal: $720
near Conway Springs, KS
FELECIANO MORENO, 33 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“TWO EMPLOYEES ATTEMPTED TO CLEAR A JAMMED DISCHARGE PORT LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF A GRAIN STORAGE BIN. THE BIN CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 2000 BUSHELS OF MILO. WHEN THEIR ATTEMPTS TO CLEAR THE PORT FROM OUTSIDE THE BIN FAILED, EMPLOYEE #1 ENTERED THE BIN WHILE EMPLOYEE #2 WENT TO OBTAIN A LIFELINE. THE LIFELINE WAS TO BE USED BY EMPLOYEE #1 AS A COMBINATION SAFETY BELT, LANYARD AND LIFELINE. AS EMPLOYEE #2 WAS SECURING THE LIFELINE AROUND PART OF THE GRAIN ELEVATOR STRUCTURE, THE DISCHARGE PORT SUDDENLY CLEARED. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS PULLED INTO THE FLOWING GRAIN AND BURIED.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $840
After appeal: $420 (50% reduction)
near Plains, KS
FRERICH, DOUGLAS, 33 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was cleaning a grain bin with the hopper bottom and conveyors open and running. Employee #1 suffocated and died in the draw-down vortex. Employee #2, who was working in the same area, was also pulled into the grain draw-down vortex, but was removed alive through the hopper's bottom opening.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $39,500
After appeal: $11,750 (70% reduction)
near Danville, IL
RODNEY MCCARTY, 33 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employees #1 and #2 were cleaning a flat bottom grain bin using a front end loader. Employee #1 was operating the loader while Employee #2 watched. Employees #1 and #2 were found dead from asphyxia inside a chute leading to the drag conveyor.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Bloomingburg, OH
RICHARD E. RYAN, 33 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At 11:50 a.m. on October 29, 1998, Employee #1 entered the top of an approximately 10 ft wide by 10 ft long by 50 ft deep wheat bin to remove midds from the side of the bin using a wooden handled metal scraper. The bin opening was approximately 23 in. long by 23 in. wide, and measured 28 3/4 in. diagonally from the corners. Employee #1 placed a 50 ft Arabi Webbing Sling Company portable ladder into the bin. He secured the ladder to the opening with a 27 in. long metal bar by placing the bar through the end loops of the ladder and placing the bar across the bin opening. Employee #1 had descended four or five rungs when he fell approximately 45 ft to the bottom of the bin. He was engulfed by approximately 2 1/2 tons of wheat midds that were loosened from the side of the bin and died of asphyxia. The company failed to develop proper procedures or to provide safety equipment for employees required to enter bins.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $3,600
After appeal: $3,600
near Frankfort, IN
SEAN P. GARKEY, 33 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 11:20 p.m., four employees of a grain coop attempted to unclog a grain bin to maintain the flow of a 230,000-bushel capacity grain bin that was approximately one-fourth full. The bin was 72-ft in diameter and approximately 80-ft high. Employees #1 and #2 entered through the top of the bin and descended the ladder to the grain. No fall protection or personal protective equipment was utilized. One carried a length of conduit, the other a length of rebar, and, with only flashlights for lighting, positioned themselves over the clogged chute and conveyor while two other employees, Employees #3 and #4, attempted the same from the tunnel below the bin. The conveyor was energized and operating during this process. When the chute cleared and the grain flowed Employee #2 began to sink into the grain. Employee #1 grabbed Employee #2 and pulled him free when instantaneously Employee #1 was overcome by the flow of the grain. Employee #2 grabbed Employee #1 to save him but could not retrieve him. Employee #1 disappeared into the grain. Employee #2 screamed and was heard only by a fifth employee who entered the powerhouse and shut down the conveyor system. Numerous Fire and Emergency Medical Service units responded. The coroner was contacted and was on site. Employee #1's body was removed on September 25, 2007 at approximately 5:00 a.m. and he was pronounced dead.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $158,250
After appeal: $94,950 (40% reduction)
near Mazon, IL
DEON ARMSTRONG, 33 years old (link)
Accident Summary
OSHA accident investigation summary not available.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $27,700
After appeal: $27,700
near Schlater, MS
PATRICK DUFTY, 34 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On December 11, 1989, an employee, employed by a trucking company assigned to move grain from a storage dome to a conveyor intake, access the grain in the dome. The grain was gained by running planks from a framed opening. As they were removing a plank, the center support holding the rest of the planks in place gave way causing the bulk corn to spill out, trapping the employee against a lift truck and burring by the corn causing asphyxiation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Elkton, MI
IVAN WISE, 34 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 9:15 a.m. on November 30, 1994, Employee #1 and two coworkers were attempting to unclog a grain removal system from inside the grain bin. Employee #1 was using a shovel handle to open the center hole of the grain bin when the corn started to flow. He was engulfed, asphyxiated, and died. The grain removal system had not been locked out and the employees were not wearing harnesses with lifelines.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $27,000
After appeal: $17,500 (35% reduction)
near Hoopeston, IL
ROBERT RICKERT, 34 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was a day laborer hired to help vacuum out the grain bins. The grain truck was filled in 20 to 25 minutes with Employee #1 working the nozzle of the vacuum inside the east grain bin and the owner watching the equipment and acting as an observer. Employee #1 was not wearing a harness or body belt and lanyard. During the filling of the second truck another employee noticed the discharge of wheat into his truck had lessened and the owner went to the bin and could not see Employee #1. The angle of repose of the wheat at the time of the incident was approximately 37.5 degrees. Employee #1's body was recovered in the grain bin at approximately 4:15 p.m. in a location six to seven feet in from the wall of the bin. Employee #1's upper body was buried in 2.5 ft to 3 ft of wheat and was covered by 4 ft to 5 ft of wheat. Employee #1 was asphyxiated.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $25,300
After appeal: $25,000 (1% reduction)
near Lake Park, MN
SIDNEY FUKUA, 35 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 8:30 a.m. on the day of the accident, Employee #1 was helping to load a truck with grain. He had been sent to to top of the approximately 50 ft tall silo to see if the grain was wet. After looking through a hatch located on the silo roof, he sat down to wait as the grain was loaded by conveyor into the truck. Without warning, the upper portion of the silo's side wall collapsed and Employee #1 fell off the roof. He became engulfed by the grain that piled up on the ground, and died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $14,000
After appeal: $10,500 (25% reduction)
near Virginia Beach, VA
EUGENIO H. PENARAN, 35 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On June 2, 2005, Employee #1 was trying to clear a soybean clog in a concrete bin when he was engulfed by grain. He was asphyxiated and killed.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $56,000
After appeal: $14,000 (75% reduction)
near Leoti, KS
JACK SCHAFSTALL, 36 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 entered the top of a 80,000 bushel grain bin without safe grounds. The shell corn collapsed, covering Employee #1. He died of asphyxiation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Cortland, IN
ALEJANDRO RAMIREZ, 36 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On May 12, 2005, Employee #1 entered the side entrance of a bottom cone elevator, was engulfed by grain, and suffocated. Employee #1 was killed.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $7,500
After appeal: $4,500 (40% reduction)
near Petersburg, TX
SCOTT GROSSOEHME, 36 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On June 14, 2006, Employee #1 was cleaning corn from a flat bin storage facility in preparation for the wheat harvest. A coworker was operating a front-end loader and Employee #1 was hand shoveling when he was buried under approximately 20 feet of grain. Employee #1 was asphyxiated and killed.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $22,500
After appeal: $18,000 (20% reduction)
near Topeka, KS
WILLIE JAMES MCALIST, 37 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“THE COMPANY WAS TRANSFERRING SOYBEANS FROM BIN #4 TO BIN #3. BECAUSE THE SOYBEANS WERE MOIST, CLOGGING WAS A PROBLEM. CONSEQUENTLY, THE SOYBEANS DID NOT FLOW PROPERLY OUT OF BIN #4. COMPANY OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEE #1 TRIED TO BREAK UP THE CLOGS FROM OUTSIDE THE BIN, USING A REBAR. THIS ATTEMPT FAILED. THE OFFICIALS AND EMPLOYEE #1 THEN TURNED THE CONVEYOR OFF AND WENT INSIDE THE BIN TO BREAK UP THE CLOGS. THE COMPANY OFFICIALS RETURNED TO THEIR OFFICES AFTER GIVING EMPLOYEE #1 VERBAL INSTRUCTIONS TO MONITOR THE SOYBEAN FLOW AND TO BREAK UP ANY ADDITIONAL CLOGS. EMPLOYEE #1 AND ANOTHER WORKER WENT INTO THE BIN TO REMOVE CLOGS WHILE THE DRAG CONVEYOR WAS STILL RUNNING. EMPLOYEE #1 WAS BURIED BY THE SOYBEANS AND SUFFOCATED. THE SOYBEANS WERE ABOUT EIGHT FEET DEEP IN THE BIN WHEN THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $450
After appeal: $450
near West Point, MS
RYAN R HUBER, 37 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was buried in a grain storage bin while attempting to unplug a conveyor. He died of suffocation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $47,475
After appeal: $20,000 (57% reduction)
near Hazelton, ND
COREY WINGATE, 37 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On June 8, 2011, Employee #1, a 37-year-old male supervisor with Cooperative Elevator Association came in to work early to start transferring grain from an outside storage pile to the storage facility. When his coworkers arrived at work they found Employee #1's truck at the facility and the equipment running. After a search, the coworkers found Employee #1 engulfed in the outside grain pile. Employee #1 died from asphyxia in the event.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $11,200
After appeal: $11,200
near Ocheyedan, LA
WILLIAM NEELY, 38 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“A 500,000-bushel grain elevator that was staffed by a single employee had problems with milo flowing in one of its bins. The lone employee, a branch manager, called for a second person to help him free the grain. An elevator operator who had frequently worked at that elevator arrived to help. The manager measured the grain to be 34 meters (111 feet) from the top of the bin. From this measurement, he estimated the depth of the grain to be 1 meter (3 feet). The manager decided to use sewer tape to try to free the grain. The operator donned a safety belt and rope, which was tied to a pulley system located on the bin just outside the manhole entry. However, the rope was not drawn tight, and there was too much slack in it. While the operator was in the bin, the manager went to the boot to run the sewer tape up through the chute and hopper. When the manager returned to the floor level, he discovered that the operator had been covered by the grain. The manager then tried to pull the injured employee out but failed. The manager then called for emergency medical services and returned to the bin. He tried to rescue the injured employee with a shovel but was again unsuccessful. Emergency medical services arrived and, 4 hours later, freed the injured employee from the bin. According to rescue personnel, there was about 3 meters (10 feet) of grain at the unsloped portion of the bin where the injured employee was found. The grain was apparently deeper there than it was near the edge of the bin. The employee, who had been buried under about 2.1 meters (7 feet) of grain, was pronounced dead at the scene. He had suffocated. The employees failed to follow entry permit procedures for the entry, and the employer's training of the employees in confined space entry procedures was inadequate.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $90,000
After appeal: $77,800 (13% reduction)
near Dighton, KS
RODNEY DINKENS, 38 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 12:00 p.m. On November 3, 2006, Employee #1 was assisting two other workers that had encountered difficulty removing the rusted bolts on a silo door. After Employee #1 removed the last bolt from the door using an impact wrench, wheat pushed the silo door open, flowed from the silo opening, and engulfed Employee #1. The grain silo had a capacity of 480,000 bushels of wheat. Three hours after the incident occurred, the wheat level in the silo appeared to be approximately 5 ft above the top of the access door that Employee #1 had been removing. The weather conditions at the time of the accident consisted of sunny clear skies and did not likely contribute to the accident.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $12,500
After appeal: $5,000 (60% reduction)
near Maumee, OH
IRA FUSELIER JR, 39 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“EMPLOYEE #1 WAS STABBING GRAIN AT AN INSPECTION HATCH. HE WAS STRUCK IN THE BACK BY FALLING GRAIN; KNOCKED THROUGH THE HATCH AND INTO THE BIN. HE WAS BURIED BY THE FLOWING GRAIN AND SUFFOCATED.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Lake Charles, LA
KEVIN PITT, 39 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 entered a grain bin to clear grain from the lower access door. The grain shifted, and he became engulfed. Employee #1 died of suffocation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $8,400
After appeal: $8,400
near Sharon, TN
JOSE HERRERA, 39 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 entered a flat grain storage building and was pushing grain into a conveyor feed opening when he became engulfed by grain. He died of asphyxia. Employee #1 was not wearing a body harness or lifeline, and he failed to have a coworker standing by.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $3,225
After appeal: $1,100 (65% reduction)
near Edmonson, TX
JAYME GEMAR, 39 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 noticed that the flow of material in a grain bin had stopped. He entered the bin to investigate when he was sucked under the grain and buried. Employee #1 died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $13,500
After appeal: $9,000 (33% reduction)
near Oakes, ND
MORRIS L WHITCOMB, 40 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“EMPLOYEE #1 WAS CLEANING MILO FROM A GRAIN ELEVATOR BIN. HE APPARENTLY SLIPPED AND ENDED UP IN THE BOTTOM SPOUT WITH MILO COVERING HIM. HE WAS PRONONCED DEAD OF SUFFOCATION AT THE SCENE BY THE STANTON COUNTY CORONER.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $560
After appeal: $560
near Big Bow, KS
GEORGE PUNG, 40 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On October 12, 1990, Employee #1 was working at a grain handling terminal. He and three coworkers entered a 32 ft in diameter by 142 ft high storage bin through a hatch located 10 ft above floor level to clean out the remaining 2 ft of grain. They used shovels and rakes to move the grain across and then down the inclined floor to a 2 ft by 2 ft chute opening. Employee #1 and the coworkers were wearing safety belts with rope lanyards tied to a handhold outside the hatch. Employee #1 slid into the chute opening along with some grain and was buried. His safety belt did not protect him because the rope and lanyard were tied off with at least 10 extra ft of slack. He was buried for several hours before equipment was brought in to remove the grain. Citations were issued for serious and willful serious violations of 16(2) and 7707(2)(4)(5)(6).
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $10,620
After appeal: $10,620
near Webberville, MI
DAVID R ULRICH, 40 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 9:00 a.m. on March 5, 1991, Employees #1 and #2 were asked to remove the stored rice contained in a concrete building. The building had 12 ft by 12 ft entrances at both ends that had been sealed with 2 in. by 12 in. lumber. Two openings, approximately 1 1/2 ft square and 2 ft off the ground, were cut in the lumber to start the flow of rice. A front-end loader operator scooped the rice into tandem grain haulage trailers. Employee #1 was sweeping and scooping rice from the loader operating area onto the pile. The loader operator stopped loading to help position a second trailer. When he resumed loading, the operator noticed legs protruding from one of the access holes. Apparently, Employee #1 had entered the rice storage area and had been engulfed by the flowing grain. Employee #2 attempted to rescue him, but was also engulfed by the rice. Both employees were transported to a hospital, where efforts to revive Employee #1 were unsuccessful. Employee #2 was treated and released. Neither of the employees was wearing a safety belt or harness.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $4,000
After appeal: $4,000
near Woodland, CA
ANTHONY CLARK, 40 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 and a coworker were using an underground conveyor system to remove grain from an outside storage pile. The grain became clogged in the dump and as Employee #1 and the coworker attempted to clear the clog, Employee #1 became caught in the grain. He was engulfed and killed.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $7,000
After appeal: $7,000
near Oneill, NE
WILLIAM LAMBERT, 40 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On February 7, 2002, an employee of Chaffee/Lynchburg Elevator was attempting to dislodge bridged corn in a storage bin when the corn broke loose, engulfing the employee. The employee became entangled in the bin auger and died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $113,725
After appeal: $56,000 (50% reduction)
near Leonard, ND
JOHN ALBERS, 40 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On August 31, 2005, Employee #1 was emptying a 130,000 bushel silo. The silo was empty enough that the door near the 3,000 bushel level could be opened. One of the spouts bridged up with grain, and Employee #1 entered to break up the bridge. When the grain started to flow, it pulled Employee #1 down into the spout. He was suffocated by the grain.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $21,000
After appeal: $11,900 (43% reduction)
near Goldfield, IA
DONALD EUGENE MCIVER, 40 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On October 17, 2007, Employee #1 and a coworker were loading cattle feed onto a wagon. The feed consisted of meal, gluten and screening. The employees were having trouble with the gluten falling down out of the coned bin. Employee #1 walked away and entered the coned bin to break up the gluten. The coworker started loading the feed onto the wagon. While loading the feed, the coworker noticed the gluten start to slow down. He went over to the coned bin to unclump the gluten. He stuck his hand in the bottom of the coned bin, and felt what he thought was rubber, but then realized it was a shoe. He began to look for Employee #1, but no one had seen him. Employee #1 was in the coned bin and had been engulfed in the gluten material. Employee #1 was pronounced dead at the scene. Preliminary cause of death was compressional asphyxia with airway obstruction.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $24,750
After appeal: $11,000 (55% reduction)
near Decatur, IL
JORGE NARVAEZ, 40 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On May 29, 2008, Employee #1 and two other employees entered a corn bin to clean out old corn and get the bin ready for this season's corn crop. One of the employees tied a rope around his waist before entering the bin, which had sloping sides. The three employees began to loosen the corn from the sides of the bins with shovels. A rat ran past one employee, and another employee tried to kill the rat. Employee #1 moved out of the way and as he stepped away, the corn started to slide. The corn carried Employee #1 down to the chute at the bottom of the bin. His legs went in and got stuck, as the corn continued to slowly cover him up. One employee left to get help. The other employee stayed but left after Employee #1 was fully covered with corn and was killed by suffocation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $13,925
After appeal: $2,820 (79% reduction)
near Orangeburg, SC
MELVIN DEEM, 41 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 entered a grain hopper to unclog the bottom without locking out the conveyor system. He was subsequently engulfed by grain and killed. The company was cited for violations under T8CCR 1910.147 and 1910.272.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $39,000
After appeal: $8,500 (78% reduction)
near Burley, ID
WAYNE N DAVIS, 41 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On March 15, 2002, Employee #1, of Roe Farm Service, Inc., was operating the Flaked Corn System and other associated equipment, which includes crushing and cooling before filling the storage bins with the processed material. Employee #1 was found inside of a flaked corn storage bin with a shovel and was apparently shoveling the material to make room for an estimated half-ton of the flaked corn that remained in the cooler. A coworker noticed that the flaked corn system blower was still operating at 6:30 p.m. and knew that Employee #1 had been operating the system earlier and should have been done by this time. The coworker shut off the blower and called for Employee #1, but got no reply. The coworker began looking for the employee and noticed that the cover to the Flaked Corn Bin #13 was open. The coworker climbed the ladder to the top and saw Employee #1's hands protruding from the corn, he also saw a shovel on top of the corn. It appears Employee #1 entered Bin #13 without complying with confined space requirements to shovel material away from the fill chute in order to get the remaining material from the cooler into the bin. The bin had a void inside which was created when material was removed by the bottom auger and the material above became bridged. When Employee #1 entered the bin from the top, the bridged area inside of the bin gave way under the combined weight of the added material from the fill chute and Employee #1. Employee #1 was engulfed by the corn and asphyxiated. Employee #1 died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $5,250
After appeal: $4,000 (23% reduction)
near Philadelphia, NY
BOBBY BAILEY, 41 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On May 12, 2009, Employee #1 was a assisting a driver in loading a dump truck with old wheat from a bin, when the auger within the bin became clogged with clumps of wet wheat. According to the driver, Employee #1 attempted to dislodge the clumps of wheat from outside of the bin, using an approximately 10-foot long piece of metal rebar. When the auger was clogged with clumps of wheat, it would trip the 10-Amp circuit breaker, and the driver went to the shed to turn the breaker back on. When the driver returned to the bin, he found Employee #1 inside the bin, engulfed in wheat. The driver attempted but failed to free and pull Employee #1 out. He then called the owner, who was just pulling up on the site. Both the driver and the owner attempted but failed to free Employee #1 and then called emergency responders. EMS and the Fire Department arrived at approximately 11:05 a.m. and IOW (apparently Isle of Wight) Police arrived at 11:17 a.m. Employee #1 was found standing in an upright position, with his right foot lodged beneath the auger. The report from the office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Norfolk, VA indicated asphyxiation as the cause of death. The Compliance Safety and Health Officer (CSHO) spoke with the IOW County Fire Department Captain and learned that that they removed four truckloads (approximately 500 bushels per truckload) of wheat in order to remove Employee #1 from the bin. From interviews with the owner, Fire Department, and EMS, the CSHO learned that the grain was approximately 4 and 1/2 feet high by the door of the bin and approximately 15 feet high at the opposite wall. It was common practice for the employer and the employees to enter the bin to dislodge the auger, which tripped the 10-Amp circuit breaker when it was clogged with clumps of wheat. The CSHO observed manufacturer's warnings signs indicating, "CONFINED SPACE - DO NOT ENTER", on the door of the bin and warning signs on the auger to perform LOTO (lockout/tagout) when servicing the bin or performing maintenance. When interviewed, the owner revealed that entering the bin to dislodge wheat from the auger was common practice, and he had instructed Employee #1 to enter the bin, and use the 10-foot-long rebar to dislodge the wheat. The owner told the CSHO that his insurance provider said his employees should never enter the grain elevator (bin) while wheat is being stored.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $71,500
After appeal: $71,500
near Smithfield, VA
MONIQUE HARPER, 41 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On August 31, 2010, Employee #1 and two coworkers were sitting at the bottom of an approximately 35 ft high rice pile. Employee #1 departed from the area and went around to the front of the rice pile. She was seen sitting on a bucket in front of the rice pile and watching rice fall from the overhead auger. Later on, the coworkers went to locate her, but could not find her. They saw what was thought to be paper approximately 10 ft up the rice pile. The coworker climbed the pile and saw that it was Employee #1's hand. Employee #1 had become engulfed by the rice. Emergency medical personnel were summoned. She was excavated from the pile, but was unable to be retrieved via cardiopulmonary resuscitation. When medical personnel arrived, they took over the CPR. Employee #1 was transported to a local hospital where she was pronounced dead as a result of asphyxiation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $6,300
After appeal: $6,300
near Stuttgart, AR
JOHNSTON, DONALD L J, 42 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 went into the feed bin to dislodge feed grain that was stuck to the bin's walls. After dislodging the grain, Employee #1 either slipped or fell into the bin and was dragged by the grain's flow under the grain and out the opening at the bottom of the bin. Employee #1 suffocated under the grain and died.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $900
After appeal: $900
near Snohomish, WA
MICHAEL COLLINS, 42 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On May 1, 2002, Employee #1, a feed mill laborer, was working inside a 42-foot high and 40-foot in diameter grain silo. The grain was being poured into silo while he was using a shovel to break up surface crust from the walls and dislodge caked corn from the 16-inch wide gravity- fed screw auger transfer unit, located beneath the floor of the silo. For some reason, Employee #1 became buried, chest high, in the flowing corn. He remained buried for four hours until rescue services freed him. Employee #1 died from asphyxiation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $161,000
After appeal: $161,000
near Bushnell, FL
RICHARD E. BAILEY, 42 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On September 23, 2003, an employee of BTS, Inc., who had been contracted to clean bin bottoms and bag houses at a Cargill grain elevator, was engulfed by grain while cleaning a bin bottom. The employee was killed.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $4,500
After appeal: $2,250 (50% reduction)
near Topeka, KS
CALVIN WILSON BRANCH, 42 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 9:00 a.m. on November 6, 2008, an employee was filling freight trucks with peanuts from a full 100-ft long by 85-ft wide by 48-ft deep peanut warehouse when the peanuts stopped flowing from the grain elevator to a semi truck. The employee was observed entering the peanut warehouse to get the peanuts flowing again and was not seen again. At approximately 11:00 a.m., coworkers and managers started searching for the employee and determined that he may have fallen into the peanuts. At approximately 12:09 p.m., fire and rescue were called. The body was recovered by emergency medical technicians. The employee was pronounced dead at the scene.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $49,100
After appeal: Unknown
near Newsoms, VA
SYLVESTER JACKSON, 42 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On January 16, 2008, Employee #1 entered a soybean grain bin to clear a clog. A coworker was assisting him from the outside and maintained communication by radio. The coworker left to check the belt conveyor, which ran underneath the grain bin. While he was gone, Employee #1 was engulfed in soy beans. After trying unsuccessfully to contact him, the coworker called the office to get emergency help. Employee #1 remained in the bin for several hours while emergency personnel attempted to rescue him. An additional collapse of soy beans completely engulfed his body, asphyxiating and killing him. At approximately 9:00 p.m., the body was removed and taken to the Coroner's office in Little Rock for autopsy.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $27,000
After appeal: $9,000 (66% reduction)
near Helena, AR
DANNY E LONG, 43 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 inadvertently transferred wheat into the wrong storage silo. He and the president of the company climbed into the silo from the top to remove the wheat using a pneumatic conveyor. The conveyor was being operated from the ground by two other employees. The president left the silo to obtain a part for the conveyor, leaving Employee #1 alone in the top of the silo. At the direction of the vice president, who was one of the two employees on the ground, Employee #1 continued to remove the wheat using the conveyor. After approximately 20 minutes of operation, the vice president noticed the conveyor piping shaking as if it was clogging up. He shut the conveyor down and went up into the silo to ascertain the problem, but could not locate Employee #1. He searched through the wheat for 5 to 10 minutes, then went to the office to call for help. The rescue squad arrived and assisted the President and vice president in searching through the wheat for Employee #1. The vice president found Employee #1's body in a vertical position with his head about 2 feet below the surface of the wheat; the body was 2 to 3 feet from the conveyor hose. Employee #1 died. The president stated that he had trained Employee #1 in the proper use of the conveyor.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,120
After appeal: $1,120
near Whiteville, NC
RICHARD ANDERSON, 43 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On the morning of April 16, 1990, Employee #1 and two other newly hired feed mill employees were working in a feed mill where either whole soy bean balancer or dairy concentrate was being bagged. Employee #1 told his two coworkers that he was going to shovel some beans and left. The coworkers finished bagging the order, swept the floor, and waited for Employee #1 to return. When Employee #1 did not return, a search was initiated for him by all other employees but he could not be located. It was observed that the product flow from this soy bean balancer bin was only trickling and the lower outlet was opened. The assistant manager probed the outlet opening and reached up and felt shoes. Metal bars were obtained and the floor of the wooden bin was ripped open. The grain flowed onto the floor and Employee #1 could be seen inside the 10 ft high, 5 ft wide, and 10 ft long wooden bin. An outside salesman on the premises who was a first responder obtained his medical kit; two coworkers assisted him in removing Employee #1 from the bin. The ambulance arrived, but efforts to revive Employee #1 failed. The medical examiner stated that his windpipe was blocked with grain and that he had died of suffocation. No formal bin entry procedure had been established by this employer.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $3,575
After appeal: $3,575
near Houston, MN
JIM ROBERTS, 43 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was using a portable auger apparatus to run grain from a pile inside a building to a floor auger to be loaded outside. The portable auger apparently became clogged. While Employee #1 was dislodging the grain, the grain pile approximately 25 ft overhead collapsed onto him, suffocating him to death.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $14,250
After appeal: $6,120 (57% reduction)
near Belvidere, NE
FRED STEENHOEK, 43 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 and a coworker entered the top of a 48 ft diameter, 70,000 bushel capacity steel grain bin that was filled with approximately 15 ft of beans. The two workers were trying to clear an obstruction of bean pods, but found that they couldn't dig down far enough to reach the side trap. They then decided to see if they could reach and operate the middle trap. While Employee #1 stayed inside the bin, his coworker exited, went down to the ground, and manually shut the side trap door from the outside. Then he went to the control station for the auger, which was running, and opened the middle trap. Very few beans came out, and the coworker said that he felt something unusual as he was closing the trap. He turned off the auger and returned to the grain bin's opening, but could not see Employee #1. The coworker immediately called for help, and then re-entered the bin to find Employee #1, who had been sucked down into the beans. He died of suffocation. Neither Employee #1 nor the coworker were wearing personal protective equipment, and a permit had not been issued for their job.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $69,600
After appeal: $40,000 (42% reduction)
near Kellogg, IA
JOSE LUIS HERNANDEZ, 44 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“EMPLOYEE #1 ENTERED A BIN OF BARLEY AND COTTONSEED HULLS WITHOUT TELLING ANYONE WHERE HE WAS GOING. 1,000 POUNDS OF THE BIN'S CONTENTS WERE DISCHARGED WHILE HE WAS INSIDE, DRAWING HIM INTO THE REMAINING GRAIN AND SUFFOCATING HIM. HE WAS NOT WEARING A SAFETY BELT AND LIFELINE.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $350
After appeal: $250 (28% reduction)
near San Lucas, CA
HILLARD BENEKE, 44 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 entered the scale without following lockout procedures. He was killed when he was covered with an incoming load of grain.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $930
After appeal: $765 (17% reduction)
near Saint Paul, MN
KEITH E WHITE, 44 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 1:00 p.m. on March 7, 1990, Employee #1 from the Snipe Mobile Feed Company, located on the rural Route Number Five near Rochester, Indiana, suffered fatal injuries. The accident happened when the Grain Bin Number 2 buried Employee #1 while he was attempting to free crusted corn on the sides. At the time of accident, Employee #1 was standing on the floor under the crusted corn, using a rod to free it. Employee #1 died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,700
After appeal: $660 (61% reduction)
near Rochester, IN
ROBERT PEREZ, 45 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was working in a seedhouse when the cottonseed bridged over. He went under the bridged-over cottonseed to try to get the grain to flow into the tunnel. Employee #1 collapsed the bridged-over material onto himself. He suffocated.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $490
After appeal: $245 (50% reduction)
near Harlingen, TX
MARK D STEHLIK, 45 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was attempting to suck out grain from a bin near his feet while standing on top of the grain. As the grain shifted, Employee #1 was sucked down into the grain and died from asphyxiation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Mazomanie, WI
RAPHAEL J DIEDERICH, 45 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1, the owner, entered a 25,000 bushel capacity storage bin containing approximately 6,500 bushels of feed corn to unclog the center auger port. The auger had been shut off when it was observed that the flow of corn to a truck was insufficient. Once inside the bin, he told an employee to start the auger. Employee #1 then yelled to another employee to open another auger port; however, the auger was started with the center port still open. The outside attendant left the bin area before seeing Employee #1 leave the bin. Employee #1 was not missed for 30 to 60 minutes. His body was not discovered for several hours. He died of suffocation. Employee #1 was not wearing a safety harness, lifeline, etc.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $9,450
After appeal: $6,000 (36% reduction)
near Oregon, WI
GARY HERSCHBERGER, 45 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On August 29, 2001, a farm employee working inside a grain bin was engulfed by the grain and died from asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $250
After appeal: $250
near White Pigeon, MI
STEVEN L. REUSS, 45 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On May 12, 2003, Employee #1 and a coworker were in the process of emptying soybeans from a freestanding steel bin. Employee #1 was responsible for operating the bottom unloading equipment, and the coworker working as a truck driver was hauling the semi loads to a different location. The coworker returned to the bin site, noticed that the bottom-unloading auger was running, and was unable to locate Employee #1 at the site. The coworker looked into the bin, and saw a shovel and rod inside the bin. Rescue personnel were contacted, the body of Employee #1 was located in the bin were. Employee #1died of asphyxiation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Danvers, MN
HERBERT MITCHELL, 46 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“The employer had two 1,000-ton capacity silos, silo A and silo B, which were used for soybean meal. The silos were equipped with the Laidig Reclaim Auger systems. Silo B's auger was not operational, and Employee #1 opened the side cover to visually inspect the auger. Approximately 80 tons of soybean meal was stuck onto the sides of the silo. Before Employee #1 was able to close the opening, the soybean meal broke free and flowed out of the opening engulfing Employee #1 who was working from a raised platform on a forklift. Employee #1 was asphyxiated and was killed.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $42,000
After appeal: $37,000 (11% reduction)
near Delmar, DE
MELVIN HEINOLD, 47 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 3:45 p.m. on January 21, 1988, Employee #1 was attempting to clear a clogged gravity fed pipe that flowed from bin #12 to the grinder. Employee #1 told two coworkers to open the bin at the bottom to remove corn from the bin to a level below the pipe. Once this lower level was achieved, Employee #1 entered the bin from the top by a 15 ft metal ladder and cleared the pipe. After a period of time, almost all of the corn had been removed from the bin when one of the coworkers on the ground noticed Employee #1's foot protruding from the opening in the bottom of the bin. Help was summoned and CPR was administered. Employee #1 was pronounced dead of asphyxia on arrival at Goshen Community Hospital.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,040
After appeal: $1,040
near Milford, IN
CALVIN SESSIONS, 47 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At 1:05 p.m. on October 27, 1989, Employee #1 was working in a sorting and storage facility at a grain terminal. Employee #1 was breaking up corn screen bridges and cakes with a steel pipe to allow the free flow of grain. Employee #1 was accessing the area through a porthole in the side of grain storage and sorting area. Employee #1 crawled into the opening up to his waste. The corn screenings caved-in, fatally suffocating the employee.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $150
After appeal: $150
near Greenville, MS
STANLEY D. ROLLINS, 47 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On August 16, 2004, an employee entered a grain pit, corn pit, to retrieve a crank wrench; a wrench used to open the slide on the truck. Apparently, the wrench slipped through the open grates. When the employee entered the grain pit, the employee was taken down; no one closed off the slide and grain, the corn continued to flow. The pit was a gravity flow system with mechanical slide to control the flow of grain to the elevator bucket. The employee died as a result of asphyxia due to employee's bronchi was filled with yellow corn.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $7,500
After appeal: $500 (93% reduction)
near Waco, TX
DAVID GRAFSGAARD, 47 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 11:20 a.m., on June 19, 2007 an employee was buried from grain that collapsed onto him while in a grain bin.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $26,350
After appeal: $26,350
near Ulen, MN
JULIO LUIS GARCIA, 47 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“The employee entered a grain bin approximately one-third full with Barley. The employee cleared an auger jam with a probe and was engulfed in the grain.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $53,000
After appeal: $17,500 (66% reduction)
near Newdale, ID
MARVIN L BARTLETT, 48 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 went into a grain elevator bin at the 10 ft high level and walked on top of the grain to the center of the bin. He used an iron rod to break loose the grain bridging, so the grain could run free into the rotating auger at the bottom. When the grain started to run free, the employee sank into the grain and suffocated.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $4,320
After appeal: $4,320
near Grafton, NE
BRIAN RAISCH, 48 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On March 8, 2001, Employee #1 was asphyxiated when he was trapped in a grain bin.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $12,500
After appeal: $7,000 (44% reduction)
near Chapin, IA
RANDY CARPENTER, 48 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At 10:30 a.m. on February 21, 2002, Employee #1 and Employee #2 of Silver Lake Welding Service, Incorporated were working inside feed bin number 17 repairing worn metal plating on the walls. The air actuated slide gate for bin number 17 was opened, releasing its contents of approximately 12 feet in depth grain with two employees caught in the grain. The older employee was pulled under the grain first with his legs partially exposed out the slide gate opening. The other employee also pulled under the grain was wedged in on top of the older employee, preventing the two from coming on through the slide gate opening. A truck driver called for medical assistance. The Elkin Rescue Service arrived at the accident site and found one of the employees for Silver Lake Welding Service, Incorporated using a cutting torch to make a 36-inch-square large hole opening to help free the two trapped employees. The older employee was partially removed up to his chest by the time the second Elkin Rescue Service member arrived on site. The Elkin Rescue Service, at the top of the feed mill bins, observed that the hand operated, Model 482, hoist, with PN A7332, was set in place above the entrance into feed bin Number 17. A boatswain chair and swing seat was attached by a 0.375-inch diameter metal cable to the hoist. The boatswain chair and swing seat had been lowered into feed bin Number 17. The 0.375-inch diameter metal cable for personnel live line rescue was attached around one of the metal angle iron post used to support the feed inlet pipes used to transfer feed grain. There were three electric cords running into feed bin Number 17. One cord was for a stick welder, one for an explosion-proof light, and one for a portable grinder. A vent hose was lying next to the entrance of feed bin Number 17, but not inside the bin. There were two ladders in use at the time of the accident. The metal fixed-rung ladder was hung over the entrance into the feed bin Number 17, and the fiberglass extension ladder was inside feed bin Number 17 at the time of the accident. The Elkin Rescue Service members removed the two employees from the bottom of feed bin Number 17 at the pneumatic actuated slide gate opening cut open by one of Silver Lake Welding Service employees. The pneumatic-actuated slide gate door opening after being cut was pulled back out of the way by the Elkin Rescue Service with a portable hand hoist. Due to the two employees being wedge in on top of one another it took the Emergency Services approximately 3 hours to free them. Employee #1 and Employee #2 were treated by the Emergency Medical Services and died from asphyxia before being transported to Northern Surry Hospital in Mount Airy.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Elkin, NC
FRED DREHER, 49 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“A LARGE CHUNK OF CORN WAS BLOCKING THE CHUTE. EMPLOYEE #1 WENT INTO THE BIN TO FREE UP THE JAM. THE CORN STARTED TO FLOW, CAUSING EMPLOYEE #1 TO LOSE HIS BALANCE AND FALL. HE WAS QUICKLY COVERED BY THE FLOWING CORN AND SUFFOCATED.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $2,800
After appeal: $875 (68% reduction)
near Aurora, NE
EZELL GLENN, 49 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“EMPLOYEE #1 WAS KNOCKING CHUNKS OF CORN OFF THE INNER SURFACES OF A GRAIN BIN. HE EITHER PASSED OUT OR GOT CAUGHT IN AN AUGER FUNNEL AND WAS SUFFOCATED UNDER THE CORN. THE BIN WAS 30 FEET HIGH AND 18 FEET IN DIAMETER. THERE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 FEET OF CORN STORED IN THE BIN. AT CAPACITY, THE BIN HOLDS 12,000 BUSHELS OF CORN. THE ONLY BIN ENTRANCE IS AT THE TOP. A ROPE HAD BEEN PROVIDED FOR EMPLOYEE #1 TO USE AS A LIFELINE, BUT HE DID NOT USE IT. EMPLOYEE #1 DIED OF ASPHYXIATION.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $210
After appeal: $210
near Ridgeville, SC
ROQUE C. ARELLANO, 49 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was engulfed by feed during a bin cleaning operation and was asphyxiated.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $30,000
After appeal: $24,000 (20% reduction)
near Wichita, KS
RICK L. BAMLET, 49 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was delivering feed to a farm. He placed the auger from the truck over the bin door to fill the bin. A rope used to open the bin door from the ground broke, and the employee climbed onto the bin to fix the rope. The employee had a remote control that activated the auger in his pocket. As he climbed onto the bin, he contacted the remote control and activated the auger. He became pinned between the auger and the bin and was killed.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $900
After appeal: $900
near Spring Valley, MN
RAYMOND NOLAND, 49 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 3:00 p.m. on August 27, 2010, Employee #1 and two coworkers were transferring corn out of a 60 ft diameter grain bin. The corn had large quantities of foreign material, which clogged the sump holes to the floor auger. Employee #1 went inside of the bin to unclog the sump holes as one coworker watched and another coworker operated the portable auger filling the trucks. While Employee #1 was within the bin, the corn which had caked on one side of the bin broke loose and engulfed him. Visibility was limited due to lighting and the amount of dust in the air. The fire department was dispatched for rescue. Employee #1 died from asphyxiation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $345,000
After appeal: $345,000
near Geneseo, IL
JIM LEACH, 50 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On May 18, 2002, two employees entered a grain storage bin by exterior ladder to free the flow of corn to the reclaim conveyor system located underneath the bin. Employee #1 used a rod to probe and clear the corn obstructing the gate to the system. A coworker observed the operation from a few feet away. When the obstruction cleared and the corn started to flow, Employee #1 began to be engulfed by the grain's downward flow. After recognizing the dangerous situation, the coworker immediately made his way to the bin's interior ladder, escaping the downward flow. After emerging from the bin, the coworker informed the facility manager of events. The manager immediately proceeded to conduct a rescue operation that failed and subsequently contacted Emergency Services before entering the bin a second time. Employee #1's body was retrieved by Emergency Services approximately two hours later.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $8,250
After appeal: $5,250 (36% reduction)
near Lapel, IN
ARNULFO MEDINA, 50 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On November 10, 2010, Employee #1, of Taft Grain and Elevator Company, was sent to break up a ball of sorghum, which plugged the gate for the conveyor. Employee #1 got on top of the pile of sorghum. With a PVC pipe, he broke apart the ball of grain, which had formed above the gate. At the same time, a coworker was in the work station tunnel, operating the conveyor and the gates. It is unclear from the narrative, if the coworker witnessed or discovered Employee #1 having been engulfed within the grain pile. No other employees were reported in the building.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $146,000
After appeal: $36,500 (75% reduction)
near Taft, TX
JAMES VOECKS, 51 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On March 20, 2002, Employee #1 and a coworker of Schaefer Grain and Feed Inc. were attempting to load a truck with grain from a chief overhead loadout bin. The bin was plugged so Employee #1 climbed into the bin to unplug it while the coworker stayed outside to close the trap once the bin was unplugged. When the grain started flowing, the coworker could not close the trap on the bin to stop the flow of grain. Employee #1 became engulfed in the grain in the overhead bin. He died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $8,100
After appeal: $4,860 (40% reduction)
near Plainview, NE
JEFFREY BALK, 51 years old (link)
Accident Summary
OSHA accident investigation summary not available.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $4,950
After appeal: $687 (86% reduction)
near Dickens, IA
RICHARD JANTZEN, 52 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1, a branch manager, entered a flat storage structure for unknown purposes which stored corn. He was found in a semi seated position covered by approximately 1 to 2 ft of corn dead. There was approximately 2 ft of corn between him and the floor and he was found in close proximity to the floor opening leading to the screw auger and a drive through door on the north side of the structure. A plastic rod approximately 92 inches in length was found with Employee #1. The corn was not greater than waist deep along the center auger line but was sloped to approximately 10 to 12 ft towards the sides of the structure.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $9,000
After appeal: $6,750 (25% reduction)
near Ulysses, KS
CHARLES BISHOP, 52 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was operating a hopper trailer that allowed bran to be unloaded from a bottom opening. The hopper trailer was positioned over a pit opening that was covered with a grate. Employee #1 opened the bottom of the hopper trailer to dump the bran into the pit. After dumping most of the bran, Employee used a broom to sweep the remaining bran from the sides of the hopper trailer. There were no witnesses, but it is believed that Employee #1 fell into the bottom of the hopper trailer while he was sweeping. Employee #1 died of hypertension and atherosclerotic heart disease, with the contributory factor as asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $9,800
After appeal: $5,880 (40% reduction)
near Ocala, FL
STEVEN LEE, 52 years old (link)
Accident Summary
OSHA accident investigation summary not available.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,624,000
After appeal: $812,000 (50% reduction)
near MC Laughlin, SD
SEVERO E RODRIGUEZ, 53 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At about 2:00 p.m. on October 27, 1987, Employee #1 and a coworker were inside a round storage tank attempting to unplug an auger at the bottom of the tank. They were using an approximately 10 ft long plastic pipe to push down through the 7 or 8 ft of corn to where the auger was running. As the corn started to flow rapidly, Employee #1 was pulled under. He died of suffocation; his coworker escaped without injury. Neither employee was wearing a safety harness or using a safety line.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $950
After appeal: $608 (36% reduction)
near Dilley, TX
JOHN W SNYDER, 53 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 went through a manhole into the grain dump area while soybeans were running (beans were being transferred from one silo to another). Although he shut the gate that lets the beans through to the leg, he failed to shut off the conveyor that was carrying the beans. Because the beans had no place to go, they kept building up in the dump area, overcoming the employee. He died of suffocation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $480
After appeal: $300 (37% reduction)
near Pocahontas, IA
EARL HARDIMAN, 53 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On October 14, 1997, Employee #1 entered a grain-receiving pit and was engulfed by incoming grain dispensed from a vehicle to the storage location.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $26,500
After appeal: $26,500
near Wellington, KS
PAUL NURRE, 53 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On September 23, 2009, Employee #1 entered a 154,000 bushel corn storage bin at or shortly after the lunch hour. Several hours later, coworkers noticed that Employee #1 was missing. Emergency responders discovered Employee #1 dead, buried beneath the corn, at approximately 10:20 p.m.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $14,250
After appeal: $9,975 (30% reduction)
near Aurora, IA
WILLIAM H. WADE, 55 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employees were transferring grain from a grain bin through the elevator into rail cars. The process involved opening the grain bin, allowing the grain to flow into the truck dump pit, to the leg located in the boot pit. The grain then ran along the leg up to the elevator scales and out to the rail cars. While transferring the grain, the grain became clogged at the bin. The employee opened up a second bin of grain as to not disrupt the flow of grain while attempting to free up the clog from the other bin. The employee entered into the truck dump pit, a permit-required confined space, to poke at the clog in an attempt to free up the grain flow. The employee poked at the grain with a hoe attached to a long pole. The employee was engulfed in grain. Other employees discovered the employee engulfed in grain and called for help. They entered into the pit to rescue the employee. The employee died from asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $3,000
After appeal: $2,400 (20% reduction)
near Ellis, KS
PHILL COVERSON, 55 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On July 29, 2010, a newly-hired driver was unloading a trailer of raw cotton seed at a feed mill in Montgomery, AL. He was using an air wand to unclog the cotton seed, when he fell over the guardrails of the catwalk into the bin of the trailer that he was unloading. He died of asphyxiation. A CSHO's investigation determined that a lack of effective hazard training for the driver was a present and contributing causal factor. The companies involved were cited for failure to train employees effectively prior to their working in a grain handling facility.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,500
After appeal: $1,500
near Montgomery, AL
GUNDALUPE BENITEZ, 56 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 entered a metal grain storage bin that was approximately half full of corn. The corn was being loaded into trucks and the unloading auger was operating when Employee #1 entered the bin. When the corn moved, Employee #1 was buried; he died of suffocation. No harness or safety line was being used, and no one was stationed outside the bin to help in case of an emergency.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $280
After appeal: $280
near Bridgeport, NE
RAYNARD RAY SHEETS, 56 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 11:45 a.m., Employee #1, who worked in a plant mixing grains for animal feeds, went to the upper floor to the top of a soybean husk bin. Because the bin failed to feed, Employee #1 intended to break loose the stoppage. The two brothers who worked with Employee #1 began looking for him when he failed to appear for lunch. Employee #1 was found in the soybean bin under approximately 4 feet of soybean husk. He had suffocated.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $20,750
After appeal: $10,375 (50% reduction)
near North Tazewell, VA
ELGIC DEAN HUNTER, 56 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At 3:00 p.m. on April 26, 1995, Employee #1 and a coworker were breaking up clumps of foreign matter inside a soybean storage tank with shovels. The floor conveyor transfer system had been energized. Employee #1 climbed atop the soybean pile, 6 to 8 ft high, to break up clumps. A flow of soybeans started where Employee #1 was standing, pulling him down toward the floor hole. The coworker tried to pull Employee #1 free, but the flow was too strong. He shut off the conveyor, returning to find Employee #1 buried in the soybeans. Efforts to extract Employee #1 by coworkers and others were not successful. He died.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $5,000
After appeal: $5,000
near Webbers Falls, OK
H. PAUL BEENENGA, 56 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“A grain elevator superintendent and a truck driver, both employees of a grain elevator company, were loading a truck with soybeans from a 7,600-kiloliter capacity steel bin that was 18 meters high and 23 meters in diameter. The superintendent ascended the outside ladder and descended the inside ladder of the bin. He then stood on the beans, trying to unclog the open front floor hole with a garden hoe. The truck driver, who was in radio contact with the superintendent, stayed outside the bin. The truck driver told the worker in the bin that they needed to stop the loading operation and take care of another customer at another building for 10 to 15 minutes. The driver shut off the unload conveyor. When he returned to the bin, he told the superintendent that they needed to run the unload conveyor for about 3 more minutes to fill the truck, which had a capacity of approximately 29 kiloliters. When the truck was filled, the driver turned off the unload conveyor and told the superintendent to exit the bin. The superintendent said it would be easier to exit the bottom side door of the bin, but the driver advised the superintendent that there was too much product in front of the door to exit there. Because he did not want to climb the ladders, and despite a second warning, the superintendent insisted on leaving by the side door. As the truck driver started to leave to deliver his load, he heard the superintendent call for help on the radio. The driver summoned emergency medical services and found the superintendent totally engulfed by soybeans. The coroner pronounced the superintendent dead of asphyxia at the scene. There was an estimated 1,200 kiloliters of soybeans in the bin at the time of the accident. The employer's written safety and health program prohibited entry into bins from above the level of the grain without a body harness, with life line or boatswain's chair, an attendant, and suitable rescue equipment. It was company policy never to enter a grain bin from the top. The superintendent had 30 years of experience in the grain handling industry.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $3,750
After appeal: $3,000 (20% reduction)
near Utica, IL
RAYMOND SEGURA JR, 56 years old (link)
Accident Summary
OSHA accident investigation summary not available.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $16,200
After appeal: $16,200
near Brush, CO
MOSES YOUNG, 58 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“ALTHOUGH THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT, IT IS ASSUMED THAT EMPLOYEE #1 ENTERED THE GRAIN BIN AND SUFFOCATED WHEN HE SANK INTO THE GRAIN AND WAS BURIED.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Carrollton, AL
JUAN CRUZ, 58 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was unclogging the floor grates of a grain bin to enable the grain to flow freely onto the conveyor. As he unstopped a flow gate, he sank into the grain as it were quicksand, Employee #1 was completely engulfed and died of asphyxia,. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,500
After appeal: $1,500
near Pioneer, LA
BYRON FOULERS, 59 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 2:30 p.m. on June 13, 1985, Employee #1 was cleaning grain bin number 3 of the elevator located at Rural Route 1, Reynolds, Indiana. He entered the grain bin through an inspection port 12 feet above ground level. A 0.5-inch manila rope, 25 feet long, was tied to a nearby grain dryer and placed in the bin as a safety line. The employee was not using a safety belt and lanyard that was provided. Standing on the bin's floor, which sloped downward from the inspection port at a 45-degree angle, he was using an aluminum scoop shovel to free approximately 2,000 bushels of corn that had jammed in the bin. He fell into the grain and suffocated. The safety policies of the company were not enforced.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $490
After appeal: $490
near Reynolds, IN
CLYDE W RADER, 59 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 died of asphyxiation. Employee #1 entered soy bean storage bin number 22 which contained soy beans and became buried. Employee #1 entered into the ground level access door while material was in a cone shape. The pile was approximately 20 feet high in the center and less than 5 feet deep at the tank wall. Employee #1 was attempting to free the floor discharge opening of clogging debris and attempted to climb the pile to reach the other side of the pile when the center portion of the pile collapsed and buried him.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,280
After appeal: $720 (43% reduction)
near Findlay, OH
DARREL L GARST, 59 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employees #1 and #2 were cleaning out a flat grain storage building containing milo. They were using shovels to empty the grain into the discharge ports that spilled to an underground enclosed auger conveyor. As they worked, the grain flow slowed down. Assuming that a clod of milo was blocking the discharge port, the employees used a 1 in. by 4 in. piece of lumber to break loose the clod by poking the lumber in and out of the discharge port. Apparently, this action caused the port to open wider than it was originally set. The milo began to flow at an increased rate into the discharge port, burying Employee #2 up to his armpits in milo, and sweeping Employee #1 off his feet and completely burying him. Attempts by EMS personnel to revive Employee #1 failed. Weather at the time of the accident was cool and dry. Milo was piled approximately 10 to 14 feet high in the area where the employees were working. They were standing on milo that ranged from 18 inches to 3 feet deep.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,000
After appeal: $1,000
near Scandia, KS
PAUL BREWER, 59 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On August 19, 2008, Employee #1, a brewer, a bin cleaner and receiver, submerged in corn, inside grain bin, Number 106, at Tyson Chicken Incorporation's feed mill. A search was initiated at approximately 8:30 p.m. At approximately 9:00 p.m. employees reportedly attempted to rescue Employee #1. Extraction of Employee #1's body was achieved by the outside vacuum truck company and the volunteer firefighters, as well as a rescue service at approximately 2:00 a.m. on August 20, 2008.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Sebree, KY
DWAYNE SIEFRIED, 59 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 9:00 a.m. on November 12, 2009, Employee #1, the Branch Manager at the Garden City Co-op, Inc., and a coworker, were attempting to free jammed milo in a grain bin. They unsuccessfully attempted to get the grain to flow by poking with a metal bar from the pit and by reaching into the bin at the side-entry manhole with a long-handled scraper. The grain level was at and above the level of the manhole. The distance from the manhole to the throat of the chute at the bottom of the bin was approximately 17 ft. Employee #1 entered the bin wearing a harness and a lifeline, which was attached to a tractor positioned outside the bin at the manhole. The coworker, acting as the observer, was positioned at the manhole cover. Employee #1 instructed the coworker to go into the pit and probe from the pit while he attempted to break up the grain from inside the bin. The coworker did as he was instructed, and the grain slowly began to flow. After the coworker returned to the work floor, the grain flow stopped again. The coworker repeated the process at Employee #1's direction. When the coworker again returned to the work floor, Employee #1 was not visible and did not respond to calls. The coworker then turned off the leg and attempted to pull Employee #1 out of the bin by starting the tractor and backing it away from the manhole. At the truck dump grate, the rear tire on the tractor lost traction and would not back any further. The coworker then called the Elevator Superintendent and summoned emergency responders. Employee #1 was rescued from the bin by emergency response personnel and transported to the Lane County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $35,000
After appeal: $15,000 (57% reduction)
near Dighton, KS
RICHARD JENSON, 60 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 11:25 a.m. on November 7, 1994, Employee #1 was unloading his semi-tractor trailer of wheat middlings. The trailer was a 40 ft Timpte hopper bottom. Although there were no witnesses to the accident, one person had observed the employee standing on top of the trailer edge with a broom. It is presumed that the employee somehow got into the trailer and was engulfed by the flowing material. He was asphyxiated and died.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $2,250
After appeal: $1,125 (50% reduction)
near Bloomington, IL
ORVILLE WIDMER, 60 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was found dead, buried under flowing grain in bin #3 at the Almira station. The cause of death was later determined to be asphyxia due to the grain blocking his air passages. There were no witnesses to the accident and it not known why Employee #1 entered the grain bin.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: Unknown
After appeal: Unknown
near Almira, WA
JOHN W. BRAMLETT, 60 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 10:00 a.m. on February 8, 2002, Employee #1, owner and truck driver, entered into his 110,000-bushel grain bin containing soybean. He entered the bin without wearing a full body harness and a rope. Further, the power to the auger was not turned off. He entered when the soybeans stopped flowing out to the trucks. Employee #1 informed another worker to turn off the auger and bring him a harness and rope. When this worker returned Employee #1 had disappeared beneath the soybean and was recovered 5.5 hours later. Employee #1 died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $9,900
After appeal: $9,900
near Pontotoc, MS
THOMAS H GRAHAM, 61 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employees were starting to remove last year's harvest of corn from a flat grain storage building and ship it out so that the building could be cleaned. A cover over the auger was plugged or clogged and would not allow the grain to flow. Employee #1, who was the facility's grain manager, decided to go into the storage area and dislodge the obstruction. The auger was not turned off or locked out. When Employee #1 broke up the clog the grain started to flow and Employee #1 was engulfed in approximately 20 ft of grain. He died.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $24,000
After appeal: Unknown
near Uniopolis, OH
OTIS LEE BOWE, 61 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 10:30 a.m. on September 11, 1994, Employee #1, a grain elevator supervisor for F. P. Wood & Son, Inc., of Camden, NC, and a coworker entered a door near the bottom of grain bin #5 to push the remaining shelled corn down to the bottom of the bin to the auger. They were not wearing safety harnesses or safety belts with lanyards, rescue equipment was not positioned at the entrance of the bin, and an observer was not positioned outside the entrance. Employee #1 was working near the bottom of the bin when shelled corn fell down and covered him. Coworkers were unable to pull him out. At approximately 11:30 a.m., the Camden County Volunteer Fire Department removed him from the bin. Employee #1 was transported to the Albemarle Hospital in Elizabeth City, where he was pronounced dead.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $15,400
After appeal: $7,000 (54% reduction)
near Camden, NC
THOMAS L GORLEY, 61 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On July 31, 2002, Employee #1 and coworkers were transferring wheat grain from bin number 12 when the chute became clogged. Employee #1 entered the bin to clear the blockage. He was using a long steel poker to break the clog when the grain began to flow, engulfing him. Employee #1 died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $10,500
After appeal: $1,050 (90% reduction)
near Melrose, NM
EDWARD DOUGLAS WOOD, 62 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 entered a scale bin in a grain elevator to clear a grain blockage by probing a distributor below the bin. When the distributor was rotated to another chute Employee #1 fell into the distributor. He suffocated in the fine, powdery grain and died.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,600
After appeal: $1,600
near Baltimore, MD
MARNE J KARLIN, 63 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was found buried in a round, flat-bottomed, steel grain storage bin. He died of asphyxia.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $4,740
After appeal: $2,370 (50% reduction)
near Grinnell, KS
JACK HARAHILL, 63 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 and a coworker were in the tunnel of a grain elevator, dislodging an obstruction to the flow. They first jammed a piece of re-rod up through the grain chute into the concrete silo, but that did little to help the problem. Employee #1 then peered into the side opening on the silo to check the grain level. He asked another coworker to spot for him and entered the silo with some tools to dislodge the obstruction. The grain started to flow again and Employee #1 was pulled in and buried. He died of suffocation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $158,750
After appeal: $60,000 (62% reduction)
near Hemingford, NE
SAMUEL ALVARADO, 63 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On November 20, 2003, Employee #1 entered a grain storage tank to clean it. At the same time 12-ft to 15-ft of grain was dumped into the tank, engulfing Employee #1. Employee #1 died from asphyxiation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $49,000
After appeal: $19,600 (60% reduction)
near Farwell, TX
RODNEY HENNINGS, 63 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 7:00 p.m. on April 26, 2010, Employee #1 was using a conveyor from a corn storage building (flat storage) to load grain (corn) into a truck. The storage building had a 500,000 bushel capacity. During the scheduled shift change, the replacement coworker could not find Employee #1. Emergency services were contacted to assist in locating Employee #1 and he was found engulfed, about 10 feet deep, in the grain near the conveyor.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $26,000
After appeal: $19,500 (25% reduction)
near Bloomfield, NE
FRANK L TATUM, 64 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 3:30 p.m. on June 20, 1990, Employee #1 went to check the grain flow in a 15,000 bushel steel bin. At the time, there were 7,000 bushels of grain in the bin. The grain stopped flowing into a truck. The driver went to check on Employee #1's whereabouts and found his hat on top of the grain in the bin. Employee #1 had climbed up a ladder on the outside of the grain bin, then climbed over onto the bin ladder. He was not wearing any ppe. He either slipped or fell from the ladder into the grain and was immediately covered. He was asphyxiated and died.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $2,560
After appeal: Unknown
near Dickens, NE
GLENN E FORSBERG, 67 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 and a coworker were inside a concrete bin standing on the grain removing wheat with a Vac-u-ator, a diesel-powered vacuum machine. Employee #1 dropped the flexible duct and nozzle into the wheat, causing the grain to flow and carry Employee #1 with the grain along the bin's flat bottom. The wheat that had subsided along the bin's northwest quadrant then started to move, burying Employee #1 and killing him. The coworker, although more than half buried, managed to extract himself by grabbing the flexible duct and pulling himself up to the ladder rungs that were along the bin's interior wall. He sustained no injuries.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $2,000
After appeal: $1,500 (25% reduction)
near Smolan, KS
EUGENE SCHUSTER, 67 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 entered a circle grain bin filled with corn and became engulfed. He died of asphyxia due to suffocation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $3,750
After appeal: $1,675 (55% reduction)
near Hancock, IA
THOMAS GARDNER, 70 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 entered a grain bin to dislodge shelled corn that was built up against the side of the bin wall. The corn fell and engulfed him. He suffocated to death.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $11,700
After appeal: $500 (95% reduction)
near Martin, TN
CALVIN MUELLER, 70 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was killed when engulfed by grain.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $4,500
After appeal: $4,500
near Stewardson, IL
WILLIAM JONES, 70 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“On September 24, 2006, Employee #1, a mill supervisor, was working alone at a country animal feed grain mill. He climbed 55 ft up a 70 ft caged ladder mounted between two wet corn silos. Employee #1 then cross over a guardrail and proceeded across the silo's conical-shaped, 30-degree-sloped roof. He opened a roof access hatch that measured 30 in. wide by 36 in. long, which led to an area classified as a permit-required confined space. After Employee #1 could not be located, rescue operations were initiated at 2:10 p.m. Emergency responders removed approximately 30,000 bushels of corn by hand before finding Employee #1 at 2:01 a.m. the following morning. He was killed. Employee #1 was not wearing fall protection equipment even though the equipment was available.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $4,200
After appeal: $2,500 (40% reduction)
near Warsaw, NC
JAMES M FERGUSON, 71 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 9:30 a.m. on December 11, 1990, Employee #1 was checking grain storage bin #9 for hot spots (areas in the beans that had bridged over due to moisture from weeds and/or cockleburs). The bin was a 305,000 bushel capacity grain storage bin that held approximately 267,750 bushels of soybeans. Employee #1 had identified a hot spot several days earlier. Employee #1 entered bin #9 near the top and was holding the end of a 60 ft long, 1/2 in. nylon rope, which was also secured to the exterior access ladder. At the same time, soybeans were being removed from bin #9 by a sweep auger in the floor of the bin and a 16 in. diameter auger located beneath the bin. The grain was being redistributed and blended into other bins and trucks. At approximately 11:45 a.m., a coworker went to check on Employee #1 and was unable to locate him. Employee #1 was declared missing and rescue attempts were begun. The body of Employee #1 was recovered at approximately 9:40 p.m. on December 13, 1990, after the bin had been sufficiently emptied to allow rescuers to enter and recover the body.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $1,160
After appeal: $840 (27% reduction)
near Houston, MS
GERALD NORDSTROM, 71 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At 10:00 a.m. on July 15, 1993, Employee #1 was standing on 8 feet of grain, inside a grain silo containing soybeans. Employee #1 was operating a Vac-U-Vator vaculator (model 1051, manufactured by Dunbar Kapple), a portable machine run off a tractor which sucks up grain similar to a vacuum cleaner. Employee #1 was not wearing a body harness or lifeline. He was sucked into the grain and suffocated.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $12,740
After appeal: $7,007 (45% reduction)
near Trimont, MN
LYLE LOWTHARP, 73 years old (link)
Accident Summary
“At approximately 5:00 p.m. on March 17, 2010, Employee #1, a supervisor, could not be found by Coworker #1. Coworker #1 was looking for Employee #1 to inform him that she was leaving for the day. Coworker #1 found a grain bin with a man hole open and a light on the inside. Coworker #2 asked Coworker #1 to turn off the conveying system under the grain bin. Coworker #1 shut off the conveying system and continued to look for the employee. After not being able to find the employee, Coworker #1 called for emergency assistance. The fire rescue arrived and found the employee, at approximately 8:17 p.m., covered by approximately 4 to 6 ft of corn. The employee's legs were in the middle gate at the bottom of the grain bin. Employee #1 died from asphyxiation.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $5,625
After appeal: $3,375 (40% reduction)
near Pocahontas, AR
Name unknown, age unknown (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 was working in a grain storage bin when he became trapped by the grain and was slowly buried. He was killed. Employee #1 was not wearing any type of restraining device, and there were no emergency procedures or rescue-trained personnel.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $540
After appeal: $270 (50% reduction)
near Plainview, TX
JAMES GARCIA, age unknown (link)
Accident Summary
“Employee #1 entered a grain bin from above the grain. Employee #1 was not wearing a safety harness. Employee #1 sank in the grain and suffocated. Employee #1 was killed.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $88,200
After appeal: $48,510 (45% reduction)
near Placedo, TX
Name unknown, age unknown (link)
Accident Summary
“On September 23, 2009, Employee #1 entered a 154,000-bushel corn storage bin at or shortly after the lunch hour. Several hours later, coworkers noticed that Employee #1 was missing. Emergency responders discovered Employee #1 dead, buried beneath the corn at approximately 10:20 p.m.
OSHA Fines Assessed
Initial fine: $5,780
After appeal: $810 (85% reduction)
near Loma Linda, CA
Note: The data come from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration worksite inspection database, known as IMIS. In some cases, grain incident details — such as victim names and ages — were added by NPR based on news reports and public records. The incident narratives, however, were written entirely by the agency and not edited. The data do not include details about grain entrapment deaths on farms, which are exempt from federal oversight in most cases. OSHA records also appear to be incomplete so there may be additional cases not included in this interactive. NPR has attempted to identify and correct errors in the OSHA data, including names and ages. We welcome corrections from readers.
Download This Dataset (CSV format)
Questions? Problems? E-mail mstiles@npr.org.
Credits: Reporting and data analysis by Howard Berkes and Matt Stiles. Edited by Brian Boyer and Alicia Cypress. Design and development by Jeremy Bowers, Christopher Groskopf, Alyson Hurt and Katie Zhu. Chris Hamby of the Center for Public Integrity contributed reporting.