Alliance Grain Co., a Central Illinois owner and operator of grain silos, was found to have violated safety standards, endangering workers and violating federal law. The company was issued several citations, with penalties totaling $276,407.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA] opened in inspection into the grain company after reports of a seasonal laborer who suffered an injury.
The worker stepped through an unguarded sump hole and onto a moving paddle style unloading conveyor. OSHA said Alliance failed to properly guard and lockout/tagout dangerous machinery during grain bin entry.
Alliance was issued two willful, one serious and three other-than-serious citations for failing to take proper precautions. OSHA said 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.
In a statement to WGLT, Alliance Grain Co. general manager J.B. Daughenbaugh said the company acknowledges the citations received at the Gibson City facility.
"The Cooperative is reviewing OSHA’s allegations now and intends to meet with OSHA to discuss and address the agency’s concerns," Daughenbaugh said.
Alliance has 15 days to respond to the citations and penalties and either comply, request an informal conference with the OSHA area director or appeal the findings before an independent commission.
"Alliance will, as appropriate, follow the administrative procedures that are provided for review of OSHA citations. Regardless of any discussions with OSHA, the safety of all our employees has always been one of Alliance’s core values," Daughenbaugh said.
"Our Cooperative recognizes that maintaining a safe work environment requires constant improvement, and even as we work to resolve these citations, we are also working with OSHA and independently to ensure that all of our procedures meet the highest safety standards."
Alliance has 16 grain silo locations in Central Illinois, as far north as Reddick and as south as Bellflower.
