OSHA reaches half million dollar grain bin safety settlement with farm co-op
A farmer-owned Wisconsin cooperative has agreed to pay $550,000 in penalties, step up grain bin training for employees and abate all safety issues at its four grain handling facilities, according to OSHA.
As part of the settlement agreement, Cooperative Plus will provide site-specific training for all employees exposed to potential hazards identified by OSHA's grain handling, permit-required confined space and lockout standards. The cooperative also will schedule confined space and bin entry rescue drills semiannually, and provide 10 hours of training to newly hired and current employees whose duties expose them to potential hazards addressed by these standards.