The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said on July 30 that it has proposed a $507,374 fine against Gavilon Grain LLC following an incident in early January at its Wichita elevator where two employees died.
OSHA said Gavilon, which is based in Omaha, Nebraska, U.S., also has been placed in the Severe Violator Enforcement Program, which means the agency can inspect “any and all” company facilities because the company has shown “a pattern of violations.”
Joshua Rasbold, 28, and Marcus Tice, 32, died after they were buried in 20 to 25 feet of grain at the Gavilon elevator in Wichita.
Gavilon was cited for not providing employees lifelines and fall protection, lockout equipment and rescue equipment; and for allowing employees to enter a bin “in which bridged and/or hung-up grain was present,” according to OSHA.
“Moving grain acts like quicksand, and can bury a worker in seconds,” said Kimberly Stille, a regional administrator at OSHA. “This tragedy could have been prevented if the employer had provided workers with proper safety equipment and followed required safety procedures to protect workers from grain bin hazards.”