Product Overview

Summary: This Grain Storage Safety Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical steps for safely managing silos, bunkers, grain sheds and associated handling equipment. It helps Australian agribusinesses control the serious risks of engulfment, dust explosions, falls from height and respiratory exposure, while supporting compliance with WHS legislation and grain quality requirements.

Grain storage presents a unique combination of high-risk hazards: confined spaces, combustible grain dust, moving augers and conveyors, fumigants, and the ever-present risk of engulfment in flowing grain. This Grain Storage Safety Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, step-by-step framework for managing these risks across silos, bunkers, grain sheds and temporary storage systems commonly used throughout Australian farming and grain handling operations. It translates WHS duties into practical actions for planning work, isolating equipment, entering storage structures, and responding to emergencies.

Developed specifically for the Australian agricultural context, this SOP helps businesses move beyond informal practices and “we’ve always done it this way” approaches. It gives supervisors and workers a clear, consistent method for pre-start checks, safe use of augers and conveyors, control of ignition sources, working at heights on silo roofs, and managing fumigation and ventilation. By implementing this procedure, organisations can reduce the likelihood of serious injuries and fatalities, demonstrate due diligence to regulators, and protect both people and grain assets during harvest, storage and outloading periods.

The document is designed to integrate easily with existing farm safety systems and contractor management processes. It supports training and toolbox talks, clarifies responsibilities, and provides a defensible record of how grain storage hazards are identified, controlled and monitored in line with Australian WHS legislation, relevant standards and industry best practice.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of engulfment, falls, entanglement and dust-related incidents in and around grain storage structures.
• Ensure compliance with Australian WHS legislation, confined space requirements and relevant Codes of Practice for agricultural work.
• Standardise safe work methods for silo entry, grain handling, fumigation and outloading across multiple sites and crews.
• Improve worker awareness of grain-specific hazards through clear, step-by-step instructions and defined responsibilities.
• Support incident prevention, regulatory inspections and insurance requirements with documented, defensible safety procedures.

Who is this for?

• Farm Owners and Managers
• Grain Storage Facility Managers
• Silo Operators
• On-farm Workers and Farmhands
• Grain Handling and Logistics Staff
• WHS Managers and Safety Advisors
• Operations and Production Managers (Grain and Feed Mills)
• Agricultural Contractors
• Site Supervisors and Leading Hands

Hazards Addressed

• Engulfment in flowing or collapsing grain within silos, pits and bunkers
• Falls from height when accessing silo roofs, ladders and platforms
• Entanglement in augers, conveyors and other moving grain handling equipment
• Combustible grain dust and explosion or fire risks
• Respiratory exposure to grain dust, moulds, spores and allergens
• Exposure to fumigants and other hazardous chemicals used for pest control
• Confined space risks including oxygen deficiency and toxic atmospheres
• Manual handling injuries during grain sampling, bagging and equipment setup
• Vehicle and mobile plant interactions around storage areas (trucks, loaders, tractors)
• Electrical hazards from fixed and portable equipment used in and around storage facilities

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose and Scope
• 2.0 Definitions and Types of Grain Storage (Silos, Bunkers, Sheds, Temporary Storage)
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Competency Requirements
• 4.0 Applicable Legislation, Standards and Codes of Practice
• 5.0 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment for Grain Storage Areas
• 6.0 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements
• 7.0 Pre-Start Inspections and Site Preparation
• 8.0 Safe Operation of Augers, Conveyors and Grain Handling Equipment
• 9.0 Working at Heights on Silos and Storage Structures
• 10.0 Confined Space Management and Silo Entry Procedures
• 11.0 Dust Control, Housekeeping and Explosion/Fire Prevention
• 12.0 Fumigation, Ventilation and Hazardous Chemical Safety
• 13.0 Traffic Management Around Grain Storage (Vehicles and Mobile Plant)
• 14.0 Manual Handling and Ergonomic Practices in Grain Storage Tasks
• 15.0 Lockout/Tagout and Isolation of Equipment
• 16.0 Emergency Response, Rescue and First Aid (Engulfment, Falls, Exposure)
• 17.0 Training, Induction and Toolbox Talk Guidance
• 18.0 Inspection, Maintenance and Monitoring Requirements
• 19.0 Record Keeping, Review and Continuous Improvement

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory WHS Acts)
• Work Health and Safety Regulation 2011 (Cth and relevant state/territory WHS Regulations)
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Confined Spaces Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Risks of Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing Noise and Preventing Hearing Loss at Work Code of Practice
• Safe Work Australia – Managing the Risk of Falls at Workplaces Code of Practice
• AS 2628: Grain protectants – Application and safety requirements
• AS/NZS 1891 series: Industrial fall-arrest systems and devices
• AS/NZS 1715: Selection, use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment
• AS/NZS 3000: Electrical installations (Wiring Rules)