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A grain company in Ford County, Illinois, now faces potential fines exceeding $270,000 after federal inspectors identified serious safety violations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) initiated an inspection of the Alliance Grain Co. in Gibson City last September, following an incident where a seasonal worker sustained injuries. The worker had stepped through an unguarded sump hole, landing on a moving paddle-style unloading conveyor, prompting the investigation.
The U.S. Department of Labor released a statement on Tuesday detailing OSHA’s findings. Inspectors concluded that the company failed to uphold federal safety standards, putting its workers at risk. Key areas where the company was found lacking included the absence of necessary permits for bin entry, the failure to station an observer outside the bin, and the neglect to test the bin’s atmosphere prior to entry.