United States Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Marketing Service

Federal Grain Inspection Service

Program Notice FGIS-PN-03-03 September 5, 2003

Distribution: FGIS, OSP, Industry Originating Office: FMD PPMAB

Disposal Date: 09/05/05Cover

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in its programs on the basis of race, color, 

national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, and marital or familial status. (Not all prohibited 

bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternate means for communication of program 

information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and 

TDD).

To file a complaint, write to the USDA, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, 

Washington, DC 20250-9410, or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal employment opportunity 

employer.

WALK-THROUGH SAFETY INSPECTIONS AT GRAIN ELEVATORS

Contents

WALK-THROUGH SAFETY INSPECTIONS AT GRAIN ELEVATORS ��������������������������������1

1.PURPOSE �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

2.EFFECTIVE DATE ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

3.BACKGROUND �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

4.POLICY ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

5. QUESTIONS �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������
FGIS Notice PN-03-03 September 5, 2003

Page 2

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this notice is to clarify the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) 

policy regarding walk-through safety inspections at grain elevators

2. EFFECTIVE DATE

This action is effective upon receipt

3. BACKGROUND 

It is FGIS policy to provide a safe and healthful work environment for all its

employees, and to eliminate employee exposure to existing and potentially hazardous

working conditions. Accordingly, FGIS employees routinely conduct walk-throug

safety inspections at grain elevators where FGIS provides onsite service. The purpos

of these inspections is to identify and correct hazardous conditions in a timely manner

4. POLICY

a. FGIS representatives, designated by the local field office manager, must conduct 

walk-through safety inspections at grain elevators served by the local field office, at 

least once during each workday; i.e., a day in which FGIS employees are providin

onsite inspection/weighing services at the elevator

b. During walk-through inspections, the grain elevators must be checked for thos

conditions that may pose a safety risk to FGIS personnel, including:

(1) Fires (including persons smoking), smoldering grain, or visible smoke,

(2) Toxic chemical spills,

(3) High concentrations of suspended or accumulated dust,

(4) Welding, torch cutting, or other hot work,

(5) Compressed air being used to remove dust from walls and other areas,

(6) Bearings on bucket elevators running hot, slipping belts, and choked legs,

(7) Unapproved electrical equipment, loose or damaged electrical conduits, 

frayed wires, and electrical sparking, and

(8) Hazardous walkways, inadequate lighting, defective ladders and stairs, missing

guard rails, blocked stairways, and any other potentially hazardous condition

_____________________________

1

 FGIS supervisor, collateral duty safety and health officer, agricultural commodity grader, or agricultural 

commodity technician who is knowledgeable in the lay out and operation of the grain elevator and able 

to identify potentially hazardous conditions
FGIS Notice PN-03-03 September 5, 2003

Page 3

c. The scope of the walk-through inspection will depend on the size and complexit

of the elevator, and the location of the elevator relative to the FGIS onsite 

laboratory. However, every walk-through inspection must include a general

inspection of the primary grain handling areas and known problem areas

d. Prompt and appropriate action must be taken if hazardous conditions are found

during a walk-through inspection. See FGIS Directive 4790.9, “Policy an

Procedures Upon Encountering Hazardous Conditions,” for additional information

NOTE: FGIS is not responsible for the safety and health of non-Federal inspection and

weighing personnel. Therefore those persons are not required to comply with FGIS

safety and health procedures. Further, FGIS does not have the authority to enforce

safety and health rules for employees of private facilities where FGIS employees work

5. QUESTIONS

Direct any questions concerning this notice to AMS - FGIS Policies Procedures and 

Market Analysis Branch