On Sept. 4, in conjunction with the Grain Journal Magazine, Eric J. Conn, Head of the national OSHA Practice Group at Epstein Becker & Green, delivered a webinar briefing entitled “New OSHA Sweep Auger Enforcement Policies... How They Will Affect You.” The 120-minute webinar, including 45+ minutes of Q&A, was recorded, and the Grain Journal has made the recording available online. Here is a link to the OSHA / Sweep Auger webinar recording.
The Sweep Auger webinar followed an article recently published in the July/August edition of Grain & Feed Milling Technology Magazine
entitled “Sweeping Changes to OSHA’s Sweep Auger Enforcement,” which detailed the roller coaster ride that has been OSHA’s enforcement policy in connection with work inside grain bins with energized sweep augers, and explaining OSHA's current enforcement policy that provides clarity as to the conditions that OSHA considers to be acceptable for that work.
The September 4th webinar expanded on that article, and provided a review of OSHA’s current enforcement policies around work inside grain bins with energized sweep augers, and how we got there. The webinar covered:
- A general review of OSHA enforcement in the grain industry.
- The issues in the grain industry on which OSHA is focused.
- Data and trends from OSHA’s grain special emphasis program inspections.
- A detailed review of OSHA’s enforcement policies related to work with sweep augers.
The Sweep Auger webinar was the first in a series of OSHA-related webinars for the grain industry that Mr. Conn will present in 2013 and 2014 in conjunction with Grain Journal.