Committee on Education and Labor : U.S. House of Representatives

Press Releases

Chairman Miller: OSHA’s $8.77 Million Citation of Imperial Sugar Highlights Need for Rules to Prevent Similar Explosions

Friday, July 25, 2008

 

WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today issued a statement on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s $8.77 million citation of Imperial Sugar for the fatal February explosion that killed 13 workers and seriously injured dozens of others at the company’s sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia.

“This unfortunate tragedy didn’t have to happen. The Chemical Safety Board urged OSHA in 2006 to adopt rules that could prevent more deaths and injuries caused by combustible dust explosions. OSHA ignored those recommendations. The agency tasked by Congress to protect the health and safety of American workers has failed to aggressively address this deadly problem.

“It is obvious from these events that existing rules and efforts by OSHA to prevent these explosions are not sufficient. The agency should immediately issue an emergency standard to prevent these explosive hazards. Failing that, Congress will act to ensure that the agency does its job.

“It is clear from OSHA’s report that Imperial Sugar had a company-wide problem with sugar dust. Not even the deaths of 13 workers raised alarm bells with the company as proven by the dangerous conditions exposed at Imperial’s Gramercy, La. plant more than a month later.”

In April, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosion and Fires Act (H.R. 5522). The bill, introduced by Chairman Miller and Rep. John Barrow (D-GA), would require OSHA to issue emergency rules to regulate combustible dust, like sugar dust, that can build up to hazardous levels and explode.

To learn more about H.R. 5522, click here.

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