House Committee on Education and Labor
U.S. House of Representatives
Republicans
Rep. Howard P. “Buck†McKeon
Ranking Member
Fiscally responsible reforms for students, workers and retirees.
NEWSROOM
Press Release
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Alexa Marrero |
McKeon Statement on Imperial Sugar Refinery Investigation Findings
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) today released the results of its investigation into the February 7, 2008 explosion and fire at the Imperial sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia in which 13 workers were killed and 40 hospitalized. The agency announced that has cited some 108 willful safety violations, and is proposing total penalties of $8.8 million for violations at two separate facilities. Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA), the senior Republican on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement:
“OSHA’s investigation has uncovered a disturbing picture in which workers were put at serious risk by the alleged widespread violation of critical safety standards and disregard for known workplace hazards at two separate Imperial Sugar plants.
“The Imperial refinery explosion was a tragic event made even more so by the possibility that it could have been prevented. OSHA is right to levy steep fines and impose aggressive enforcement against those responsible for the alleged violations.
“Federal workplace safety laws and regulations provide strong, clear guidance on how to protect workers from jobsite hazards. As the Imperial refinery tragedy makes clear, employers have an unequivocal duty to abide by those requirements.”
# # #