OSHA Cites Grain Silo Operator for Safety Violations After Worker Injury

DOL News Releases

Filed February 24th, 2026

Detected February 25th, 2026

Summary

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Alliance Grain Co. for safety violations following a worker injury. The agency proposed $276,407 in penalties for alleged failures in machine guarding, lockout/tagout procedures, and grain bin entry safety.

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What changed

OSHA has issued citations and proposed penalties totaling $276,407 against Alliance Grain Co. after a worker suffered a serious foot injury. The citations include two willful, one serious, and three other-than-serious violations related to unguarded machinery, failure to implement lockout/tagout procedures, inadequate grain bin entry protocols, and insufficient training. The violations were identified following an inspection initiated by OSHA after learning of the injury.

Alliance Grain Co. has 15 business days to respond to the citations and penalties, which includes options to comply, request an informal conference, or contest the findings before the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Companies in the grain handling and agricultural sectors should review their machine guarding, lockout/tagout, and confined space entry procedures to ensure compliance with OSHA standards and prevent similar incidents.

What to do next

Review and update machine guarding procedures.
Ensure proper lockout/tagout implementation for all hazardous machinery.
Verify compliance with grain bin entry and atmospheric testing requirements.

Penalties

$276,407 in proposed penalties

Source document (simplified)

News Release

Federal investigators find Illinois grain silo operator violated safety standards after worker suffers injury

GIBSON CITY, IL – Federal safety inspectors have found a central Illinois grain company endangered workers and violated federal law by failing to properly guard and lockout/tagout dangerous machinery during grain bin entry, which led to a seasonal laborer suffering a serious foot injury.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration initiated an inspection into Alliance Grain Co. after learning that the seasonal laborer suffered the injury after stepping through an unguarded sump hole and onto a moving paddle style unloading conveyor.

OSHA issued two willful, one serious, and three other-than-serious citations for failing to lockout/tagout machinery, protect workers from stepping into the sump holes, and provide grain handling training to employees. Additionally, the employer failed to issue permits prior to bin entry, utilize an observer outside the bin, and ensure the bin’s atmosphere was tested before workers entered.

The agency has proposed $276,407 in penalties.

Alliance Grain Co. has 15 business days from receipt of its citations and penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director, or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

OSHA’s machine guarding, lockout/tagout and grain handling safety webpages provide information on what employers must do to limit worker exposures to machine hazards.

Agency Occupational Safety & Health Administration Date February 24, 2026 Release Number 26-211-CHI Media Contact: Juan Rodriguez Phone Number 972-850-4709 Email rodriguez.juan@dol.gov Media Contact: Eric R. Lucero Phone Number 678-237-0630 Email lucero.eric.r@dol.gov Media Contact: Erika Ruthman Phone Number 678-237-0630 Email ruthman.erika.b@dol.gov Share This
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