Results of Imperial Sugar Dust Explosion: "Entirely preventable"

It was just released that the Imperial Sugar Dust Explosion that took place in Savannah, Ga. on February 7, 2008 was “entirely preventable,” a federal official said Thursday as the results of an investigation into the fire’s causes were released. The explosion that killed 14 workers and injured 36 more resulted from ongoing releases of sugar from inadequately designed and maintained dust collection equipment, conveyors, and sugar handling equipment. Many of the 36 injured workers obtained life-threatening burns.

What makes this incident worse is that the plant's owner and manager knew for decades about the hazards of sugar dust but failed to take the necessary precautions, according to the report. The report issued by the Chemical Safety Board blamed inadequate equipment design, poor maintenance and ineffective housekeeping for the explosion and fire. The Board also stated that Imperial Sugar and the sugar industry as a whole were aware of the dangers of dust explosions at least as early as 1925. Did anybody ever think that there would be an explosion? Yes, internal correspondence dating from 1967 showed that the refinery managers were seriously concerned about the possibility of a sugar dust explosion that could “travel from one area to another, wrecking large sections of a plant.” So why wasn't anything done then?

CSB Investigation Supervisor John Vorderbrueggen, who led the 19-month investigation, said, “Imperial’s management as well as the managers at the Port Wentworth refinery did not take effective actions over many years to control dust explosion hazards – even as smaller fires and explosions continued to occur at their plants and other sugar facilities around the country.” After OSHA's investigation, the agency proposed fines of $8.7 million. This became the the third-largest in the agency’s history. Even after bluntly showing disregard for their worker's safety, Imperial Sugar is contesting the fine. Is $8.7 million in fines sufficient enough? Brent J. Savage, a lawyer in Savannah who is representing some of the victims or family members of victims in lawsuits against the plant, says he is representing one particular client who alone has incurred more than $8 million in medical bills for his severe burns.

The report also urged Imperial Sugar to comply with National Fire Protection Association recommended practices for preventing dust fires and explosions, develop dust training and housekeeping programs, and improve its evacuation procedures. According to the New York Times, John C. Sheptor, the president and chief executive of Imperial Sugar,in a written statement, said the company had “collaborated” with the safety board on the report and was “working diligently” to put in place the report’s safety recommendations.

Sources:
"CSB Releases Report on Imperial Sugar Dust Explosion." Facility Safety Management. Web. 25 Sept. 2009.
Dewan, Shaila. "Report Cites Lack of Precautions in 2008 Sugar Plant Fire." New York Times. 24 Aug. 2009. Web. 25 Sept. 2009.