Feed Mill Safety: Check These On Your Next Safety Inspection

Safe, Efficient, Profitable: A Worker Safety Podcast

A good part of our career has been spent in ag-business/agribusiness operations, with a huge part of them being at feed mills- for both day and night shifts. This episode covers a few big ticket items that we routinely see. This list can help raise a red flag that there may be some significant risk that can lead to an injury on the horizon. We hope this helps!
Summary
In this episode of Safe, Efficient, Profitable, Joe and Jen break down mill safety risks. Core themes and topics discussed: housekeeping & dust control, bin cleanouts and confined space, alone-worker protocols & site security, auger/elevator hazards, and lockout/tagout realities. They emphasize seasonality (winter/ice, summer humidity, harvest chaos), contractor scheduling, and how documentation (permits) exposes program gaps.
Action Checklist (use on your next mill walkthrough)
Verify dust/housekeeping program- anything requiring contractors, coordinate to manage seasons & contractor/part lead times.
Spot-check bearings/heat and guard integrity at augers, hammer mills, headhouses etc
Review the last 5 confined space permits —do training, equipment, and rescue plans line up? If not, give us a call! www.allen-safety.com
Evaluate alone worker processes, check site security (fences, locks, access points near rail lines) and work in a plan to tighten things down where you're able.
Walk equipment that routinely must be cleaned out, troubleshooting is required, jams, etc and validate LOTO is correct- where to apply the lock, how and who is checking for power.
Safety Training and Training-Style Floor-Based Safety Audits/Evals: Allen-Safety.com
Online safety training: AllenSafetyCoaching.com
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This video is intended for educational purposes. Solutions offered are not designed to take the place of an attorney or medical professional, and should not be taken as legal or medical advice. It is recommended that viewers consult a safety consultant, medical provider or an occupational safety legal team as applicable to help navigate their specific circumstances.
For educational purposes, videos may show the inside of manufacturing facilities, including meat and poultry production facilities, commercial farming, feed milling, and petrochemical facilities. Images shown may depict individual lines and show trained employees working in their daily jobs, however these visuals may not be suitable for all audiences. Specific job tasks shown are being completed by trained professionals, and should not be attempted without proper training and equipment under the supervision of a professional. Viewer discretion is advised.

فصول

1. Introduction to Mill Safety Issues (00:00:00)

2. Housekeeping Challenges in Mills (00:00:53)

3. Bin Cleanouts and Confined Spaces (00:03:42)

4. Lone Worker Protocols and Security (00:05:30)

5. Auger Safety and Lockout Procedures (00:08:16)

6. Closing Thoughts and Resources (00:11:41)