Access to Information in an Alternative Format
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture strives to ensure that reasonable steps are taken to provide meaningful access and an equal opportunity to participate in services, activities and programs to individuals whose first language is not English or who need an accommodation for a disability.
Translation services are available if individuals need assistance to access services, activities and programs; key documents and resources may be translated upon request.
For assistance in obtaining access to services or to arrange for translation services, please contact the Dairy and Meat Inspection Division at 651-201-6300.
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
- Personal fall-arrest systems, such as ropes, anchors, connectors, deceleration devices, harnesses, etc. and their installation (see Grain Handling Safety Coalition: Fall Protection (PDF) and OSHA Fall Protection Systems)
- Installing guardrail systems on existing ladders, roofs, and platforms (see Walking-Working Surfaces/Fall Protection factsheet (PDF) and OSHA Standard 1910 subpart D)
- Equipping existing fixed ladders with a ladder safety or personal fall arrest system (see Walking-Working Surfaces/Fall Protection factsheet (PDF) and OSHA Standard 1910 subpart D)
- Replacing grain bin ladders with stairs (see Ohio State University Extension – Ohio AgrAbility info)
Fall protection systems
- Personal fall-arrest systems, such as ropes, anchors, connectors, deceleration devices, harnesses, etc. and their installation (see Grain Handling Safety Coalition: Fall Protection (PDF) and OSHA Fall Protection Systems)
- Installing guardrail systems on existing ladders, roofs, and platforms (see Walking-Working Surfaces/Fall Protection factsheet (PDF) and OSHA Standard 1910 subpart D)
- Equipping existing fixed ladders with a ladder safety or personal fall arrest system (see Walking-Working Surfaces/Fall Protection factsheet (PDF) and OSHA Standard 1910 subpart D)
- Replacing grain bin ladders with stairs (see Ohio State University Extension – Ohio AgrAbility info)
- Lockout/tagout equipment (see Grain Handling Safety Coalition: LOTO (PDF) and OSHA Lockout/Tagout factsheet (PDF))
- Sweep auger equipped with an attached guard or a control mechanism such as a dead-man switch or similar device and with a positive speed control mechanism or bin stop device (see Grain Handling Safety Coalition: Sweep Auger Alternative Protection (PDF) from the Grain Handling Safety Coalition); this also includes sump guards/gates (see OSHA Grain Handling Facility Sweep Auger Enforcement Policy)
- Equipment shields on motors and other moving parts (see OSHA Machinery and machine guarding)
- Replacing overhead electricity to bins with buried power lines to prevent contact with augers
Engineering controls to prevent contact with an auger or other moving parts
- Lockout/tagout equipment (see Grain Handling Safety Coalition: LOTO (PDF) and OSHA Lockout/Tagout factsheet (PDF))
- Sweep auger equipped with an attached guard or a control mechanism such as a dead-man switch or similar device and with a positive speed control mechanism or bin stop device (see Grain Handling Safety Coalition: Sweep Auger Alternative Protection (PDF) from the Grain Handling Safety Coalition); this also includes sump guards/gates (see OSHA Grain Handling Facility Sweep Auger Enforcement Policy)
- Equipment shields on motors and other moving parts (see OSHA Machinery and machine guarding)
- Replacing overhead electricity to bins with buried power lines to prevent contact with augers
- Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for use in silos where silo gas may be present (see National Ag Safety Database Dangers of Silo Gas)
- Appropriate NIOSH-approved respirators (see AgriSafe factsheet or Respiratory Protection in Agriculture (PDF) from Virginia Tech) for use in and around grain bins and silos
- Other appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in and around grain bins and silos, such as hearing protection (see NDSU article, Can You Hear Me Now? or NIOSH factsheet) or ANSI certified safety glasses
- Safety signs and markers appropriate for grain bins and silos (see OSHA Accident prevention signs and tags)
- Grain bin level gauges/indicators to reduce the need to climb bins
Other grain storage facility safety equipment with prior approval from the MDA
- Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for use in silos where silo gas may be present (see National Ag Safety Database Dangers of Silo Gas)
- Appropriate NIOSH-approved respirators (see AgriSafe factsheet or Respiratory Protection in Agriculture (PDF) from Virginia Tech) for use in and around grain bins and silos
- Other appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in and around grain bins and silos, such as hearing protection (see NDSU article, Can You Hear Me Now? or NIOSH factsheet) or ANSI certified safety glasses
- Safety signs and markers appropriate for grain bins and silos (see OSHA Accident prevention signs and tags)
- Grain bin level gauges/indicators to reduce the need to climb bins
- Personal fall-arrest systems, such as ropes, anchors, connectors, deceleration devices, harnesses, etc. and their installation (see Grain Handling Safety Coalition: Fall Protection (PDF) and OSHA Fall Protection Systems)
- Installing guardrail systems on existing ladders, roofs, and platforms (see Walking-Working Surfaces/Fall Protection factsheet (PDF) and OSHA Standard 1910 subpart D)
- Equipping existing fixed ladders with a ladder safety or personal fall arrest system (see Walking-Working Surfaces/Fall Protection factsheet (PDF) and OSHA Standard 1910 subpart D)
- Replacing grain bin ladders with stairs (see Ohio State University Extension – Ohio AgrAbility info)
- Lockout/tagout equipment (see Grain Handling Safety Coalition: LOTO (PDF) and OSHA Lockout/Tagout factsheet (PDF))
- Sweep auger equipped with an attached guard or a control mechanism such as a dead-man switch or similar device and with a positive speed control mechanism or bin stop device (see Grain Handling Safety Coalition: Sweep Auger Alternative Protection (PDF) from the Grain Handling Safety Coalition); this also includes sump guards/gates (see OSHA Grain Handling Facility Sweep Auger Enforcement Policy)
- Equipment shields on motors and other moving parts (see OSHA Machinery and machine guarding)
- Replacing overhead electricity to bins with buried power lines to prevent contact with augers
- Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) for use in silos where silo gas may be present (see National Ag Safety Database Dangers of Silo Gas)
- Appropriate NIOSH-approved respirators (see AgriSafe factsheet or Respiratory Protection in Agriculture (PDF) from Virginia Tech) for use in and around grain bins and silos
- Other appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for use in and around grain bins and silos, such as hearing protection (see NDSU article, Can You Hear Me Now? or NIOSH factsheet) or ANSI certified safety glasses
- Safety signs and markers appropriate for grain bins and silos (see OSHA Accident prevention signs and tags)
- Grain bin level gauges/indicators to reduce the need to climb bins
