Last week, the leaders of the grain industry in North Dakota gathered for their annual conference, this year the Centennial gathering of the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association. I had the privilege of speaking at the conference, and share some background about OSHA's increasing focus on the grain handling industry, a review of grain handlers' rights vis-a-vis OSHA, and some strategies and tips for preparing for and managing an OSHA inspection. I also had the opportunity to speak about OSHA's approach to inspections in the grain industry at the National Grain & Feed Association's annual country elevator conference.
Audience members at the conferences wrote articles that provide some detail about my presentations. One article in AgWeek covers the increased enforcement activity and OSHA inspection rights and tips. Another article in AgWeek reviews OSHA's inconsistent and impractical enforcement stance regarding sweep augers inside of grain bins. The last article, published in DTN The Progressive Farmer, covered OSHA's focus on the grain handling industry and inspection strategies.
For more information about employers' rights and strategies during an OSHA inspection, take a look at our OSHA Inspection Checklist, a desk reference for employers to use in preparing for and managing an OSHA inspection.