1910.272(h)(2): Shut Down Equipment and No Walking Down Grain
Whenever an employee is on or in stored grain deep enough to cause engulfment, all dangerous equipment such as augers must be deenergized and disconnected, locked out and tagged, blocked off, or otherwise prevented from operating. Walking down grain, or being on moving grain, is prohibited.
Key takeaways
- 1910.272(h)(2) 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)(2) is one requirement inside 1910.272 Grain handling facilities, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart R). It includes 2 sub-paragraphs. 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
(2) 1 citations
(i) Whenever an employee walks or stands on or in stored grain or grain products of a depth which poses an engulfment hazard, all equipment which presents a danger to that employee (such as an auger or other grain transport equipment) shall be deenergized, and shall be disconnected, locked-out and tagged, blocked-off, or otherwise prevented from operating by other equally effective means or methods. Open (h)(2)(i) 1 citations
(ii) “Walking down grain” and similar practices where an employee walks on grain to make it flow within or out from a grain storage structure, or where an employee is on moving grain, are prohibited.
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.272.
Export the list: 1 inspections cited 1910.272(h)(2) 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)(2).
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)(2).
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)(1) 1 citations
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Frequently asked questions
What equipment must be shut down?
All equipment that presents a danger to the employee, such as an auger or other grain transport equipment.
How must it be controlled?
Deenergized and disconnected, locked-out and tagged, blocked-off, or prevented from operating by other equally effective means.
Is walking down grain allowed?
No, walking down grain and being on moving grain are prohibited.
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.