1910.272(h)(1): Lifelines on Stored Grain
Each employee who walks or stands on or in stored grain deep enough to cause engulfment must have a lifeline or other means the employer shows will keep the employee from sinking further than waist-deep. The lifeline may be disconnected only on a surface the employer shows is free of engulfment hazards.
Key takeaways
- 1910.272(h)(1) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart R).
- OSHA cited it 1 times in the last 3 years, in 1 inspections, with $8,460 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Related part: 1910.272(h) Entry into flat storage structures (2 citations).
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In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.272(h)(1) is one requirement inside 1910.272 Grain handling facilities, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart R). The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(1) Each employee who walks or stands on or in stored grain, where the depth of the grain poses an engulfment hazard, shall be equipped with a lifeline or alternative means which the employer demonstrates will prevent the employee from sinking further than waist-deep into the grain. 1 citations
When the employee is standing or walking on a surface which the employer demonstrates is free from engulfment hazards, the lifeline or alternative means may be disconnected or removed.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.272.
Export the list: 1 inspections cited 1910.272(h)(1) in the last 3 years, with employer, location, penalty and date.
Purple Belt, $59/moInjuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.272(h)(1).
At 10:30 p.m. on April 25, 2024, Employee #1 was pushing corn grain that was in a flat storage structure with a payloader. Employee #1 got out of the payloader and stood on a 3-4-foot-high pile of grain. Employee #1 was engulfed in grain and…
Where and how often it was cited
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OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.272(h)(1).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.272(h) Entry into flat storage structures 2 citations
- 1910.272(h)(2)(i) 1 citations
- 1910.272(h)(2) 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
When is a lifeline required in grain?
When an employee walks or stands on or in stored grain at a depth that poses an engulfment hazard.
What must the lifeline or alternative do?
Prevent the employee from sinking further than waist-deep into the grain.
When can the lifeline be removed?
When the employee is on a surface the employer demonstrates is free from engulfment hazards.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.272 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-11-06
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.