Sugar company CEO blamed in fatal refinery blast says OSHA ignores dust hazards [View All]

The head of a sugar company blamed for a Georgia refinery explosion that killed 13 workers in February sought to shift fault back to the government Monday by calling federal guidance on industrial dust accidents "woefully inadequate."

Siding with Democrats who are pushing new safety regulations, he said the manufacturing industry needs clear new standards for addressing the hazard — a move that the Bush administration and industry groups generally have opposed.

``snip``

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration last week proposed nearly $9 million in fines against Imperial over what it called willful and egregious violations that allowed sugar dust to accumulate to dangerously high levels at two plants. OSHA said the dust at the Port Wentworth, Ga., refinery was probably ignited when a large bucket used to haul sugar in a silo elevator broke loose and struck the metal siding, causing a spark.

OSHA chief Edwin Foulke emphasized that the accident could have been avoided if the company had followed existing safety and health standards. That finding is consistent with OSHA's previous position that new dust regulations aren't necessarily needed because existing rules for maintenance and housekeeping already cover the hazard.