References for grain handling

The appendix lists many specific technical publications and standards that OSHA recommends for further information on grain handling facilities. See 1910.272 App C for the full list, which includes—for example—• National Safety Council’s Accident Prevention Manual for Industrial Operations; • NFPA documents such as NFPA 61B, 61C, 61D, 66, 68, and 69; • National Academy of Sciences reports on grain elevator and mill explosions; • NIOSH’s Occupational Safety in Grain Elevators (DHHS Pub. No. 83‑126); and • industry guides like the National Grain and Feed Association’s Practical Guide to Elevator Design and Dust Control for Grain Elevators. These are listed as references for further reading and technical guidance in 1910.272 App C.

Yes—Appendix C explicitly references several NFPA standards related to fire and dust explosion prevention in grain handling. See 1910.272 App C, which lists NFPA 61B, NFPA 61C, NFPA 61D, NFPA 66, NFPA 68, and NFPA 69 among the recommended resources for preventing fires and dust explosions in grain and feed facilities. These NFPA documents provide detailed engineering and operational guidance relevant to compliance with the grain handling standard.

No—Appendix C lists helpful references but does not make those publications mandatory. Appendix C is titled "References for Further Information" and provides resources to help understand and implement the requirements in the grain handling standard; the legal obligations themselves remain in 1910.272. See 1910.272 App C for the list of references and 1910.272 for the mandatory regulatory requirements.

Yes—employers may use the NFPA standards listed in Appendix C as technical guidance to design housekeeping and dust-control measures, but they must still meet the regulatory duties in 1910.272. Appendix C lists NFPA guidance (for example, NFPA 61B, 61C, 66, 68, and 69) as references 1910.272 App C. Appendix C and NFPA documents can help you implement effective controls, but following them does not automatically substitute for meeting the specific requirements of 1910.272.

Appendix C points employers to specific industry and NFPA resources for explosion venting and suppression of bucket elevators. See 1910.272 App C, which includes a National Grain and Feed Association reference titled "Explosion Venting and Supression of Bucket Elevators" and also refers to NFPA 68 (Guide for Explosion Venting) and NFPA 69 (Standard on Explosion Prevention Systems). These references provide technical design and mitigation guidance that support compliance with the hazard-control expectations in 1910.272.

Appendix C lists training and education resources specifically for the grain industry. See 1910.272 App C, which includes items such as the "Grain Industry Safety and Health Center - Training Series" and NIOSH's "Occupational Safety in Grain Elevators" (DHHS Pub. No. 83-126). These materials are intended as helpful training and awareness resources to support compliance with 1910.272.

Yes—the NGFA Practical Guide to Elevator Design is listed in Appendix C as a recommended reference. See 1910.272 App C, which includes the National Grain and Feed Association's "Practical Guide to Elevator Design" and "Dust Control for Grain Elevators" among other NGFA publications. These documents are cited as useful technical resources but do not replace the mandatory requirements in 1910.272.

Appendix C lists industry guidance on maintenance and lubrication for grain facilities. See 1910.272 App C, which includes references such as "Standards for the Installation of Direct Heat Grain Driers," "Guidelines for Lubrication and Bearing Maintenance," "Organized Maintenance in Grain and Milling Properties," and "Suggestions for Organized Maintenance." These documents provide practical maintenance practices to reduce fire and equipment hazards, helping employers meet the control expectations of 1910.272.

Appendix C points to NFPA and industry guidance for pneumatic conveying and dust collection. See 1910.272 App C, which lists NFPA 66 (Standard for Pneumatic Conveying Systems for Handling Feed, Flour, Grain and Other Agricultural Dusts) and NFPA 91 (Standard for the Installation of Blower and Exhaust Systems for Dust, Stock and Vapor Removal), as well as National Academy of Sciences and other industry guidance on pneumatic dust control. These references help design safe conveying and exhaust systems consistent with 1910.272.

Appendix C includes references for safe dryer installation in grain and milling properties. See 1910.272 App C, which lists "Standards for the Installation of Direct Heat Grain Driers in Grain and Milling Properties" from the Mill Mutual Fire Prevention Bureau. These resources offer practical installation and fire-safety guidance to complement the requirements in 1910.272.

Appendix C points to emergency planning resources that employers can use to develop response plans for grain facilities. See 1910.272 App C, which lists sources such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture's "Safety-Operations Plans" and the "Emergency Plan Notebook" from Kansas State University Cooperative Extension. These references are intended to help employers meet planning and emergency response expectations under 1910.272.

Yes—Appendix C lists lightning protection guidance. See 1910.272 App C, which includes NFPA 78 (Lightning Protection Code) among the referenced documents. NFPA 78 can help employers design and maintain lightning protection systems to reduce fire and ignition risks in grain handling facilities, supporting compliance with 1910.272.

Yes—Appendix C recommends conveyor guidance for belt conveyors used in bulk materials handling. See 1910.272 App C, which lists "Belt Conveyors for Bulk Materials, Part I and Part II, Data Sheet 570" from the National Safety Council. That guidance can inform safe conveyor selection, guarding, and maintenance consistent with the hazard controls required by 1910.272.

Appendix C identifies industry materials focused on preventing fire spread within grain properties. See 1910.272 App C, which includes "Standards for Preventing the Horizontal and Vertical Spread of Fires in Grain Handling Properties" from the Mill Mutual Fire Prevention Bureau and related Mill Mutual guidance. These resources are intended to supplement the preventive measures required by 1910.272.

Use Appendix C as a technical reference list—not as regulatory text—to build a safety program that meets the requirements of 1910.272. Appendix C is a curated list of standards, guides, and technical reports that can inform hazard analyses, housekeeping, maintenance, ventilation, and emergency planning; but the employer’s legal obligations come from 1910.272. See 1910.272 App C for the specific references to consult.

Consensus standards listed in Appendix C can be useful technical sources, but employers must ensure their controls meet the obligations of 1910.272. Appendix C itself is a reference list (1910.272 App C). OSHA also recognizes the value of national consensus standards but does not automatically accept them as substitutes for regulatory requirements in every case; for example OSHA explained the role of consensus standards in the lockout/tagout context in its interpretation at https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/2024-10-21. Use consensus documents to inform compliant solutions, but document how those solutions meet the mandatory elements of 1910.272.

Appendix C lists industry guidance on hot work precautions that employers should consult when planning repairs and welding. See 1910.272 App C, which includes "Suggestions for Precautions and Safety Practices in Welding and Cutting" from the Mill Mutual Fire Prevention Bureau. These references help employers develop procedures that meet the fire-prevention expectations of 1910.272.

Yes—Appendix C names NIOSH material as a recommended resource. See 1910.272 App C, which includes "Occupational Safety in Grain Elevators," DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 83-126. NIOSH publications can provide practical safety and health information to support compliance with the requirements of 1910.272.