Alliance Grain Co. was cited for two willful and four serious OSHA violations and fined $276,407 after a seasonal worker suffered a serious foot injury in Gibson City, Illinois when he stepped through an unguarded sump hole onto a moving conveyor inside a grain bin.

Alliance Grain Co. — Seasonal Worker Foot Injury, Willful Grain Bin Violations (2025–2026)

Outcome: A seasonal worker at Alliance Grain Co.'s Gibson City, Illinois elevator suffered a serious foot injury when he stepped through an unguarded sump hole onto an operating conveyor inside a grain bin; OSHA cited two willful and four serious violations and proposed $276,407 in penalties.

A seasonal laborer working at Alliance Grain Co.'s elevator in Gibson City, Illinois entered a grain bin during operations. He stepped through an unguarded sump hole at the bottom of the bin and onto a moving paddle-style unloading conveyor that was actively operating, sustaining a serious foot injury.

OSHA's investigation identified two willful violations: failure to lock out the conveyor machinery before the worker entered the bin, and failure to guard the sump hole opening to prevent a worker from stepping into it. Four serious violations addressed additional procedural failures: the company did not provide required grain handling training to the seasonal worker, did not issue a bin entry permit before entry, did not station a required observer outside the bin during entry, and did not test the bin's atmosphere for oxygen deficiency or toxic gases before the worker entered.

OSHA proposed a penalty of $276,407.

Primary Source: Federal investigators find Illinois grain silo operator violated safety standards after worker suffers injury