Two years prior in 2006, the us chemical safety board released its combustible dust hazard study which summarized 281 major combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005. The vast refinery was a network of warehouses, silos and buildings eight stories tall connected by corridors of. Plus, choven points out, a sugar refinery couldnt deal with volatile dust using the traditional method of humidifying rooms, since wet sugar would gum up the machinery. The investigations were done by the two major federal agencies and their reports later. The tragical accident of port wentworths imperial sugar plant in 2008 is the most known incident of sugar causing an explosion that caused lethal injuries. As a consequence of the sugar dust explosion that took place at isolated conveyor belt which was located below bunker that stored the granulated sugar. On february 7, 2008, fourteen workers were fatally burned in a series of sugar dust explosions at the imperial sugar plant near savannah, georgia. The current name, imperial sugar company, was established after a change in ownership in 1907. Imperial sugar company reports explosion at georgia refinery. Imperial sugar dust explosionvideo and final report released. Osha announced july 7 that it has resolved litigation with imperial sugar co. If that is the case, the agency will issue citations and propose appropriate penalties. Imperial sugar refinery combustible dust explosion.
Dec 06, 2012 fourminute video depicting the specific events that lead to the explosion of the imperial sugar refinery in port wentworth. Osha initiated the inspections following an explosion and fire on feb. Plus, choven points out, a sugar refinery couldnt deal with volatile dust using the traditional method of humidifying. Oct 01, 2009 despite the damage, imperial claims it will be selling sugar to bulk customers by years end. The 2008 georgia sugar refinery explosion was an industrial disaster that occurred on february 7, 2008, in port wentworth, georgia, united states.
Imperial sugar dust explosionvideo and final report. An explosion at imperial sugars plant near savannah, georgia, in 2008 that killed 14 people was entirely preventable, the u. The twoway last years deaths of 14 sugar factory workers in georgia could. Oct 05, 2009 on february 7, 2008, fourteen workers were fatally burned in a series of sugar dust explosions at the imperial sugar plant near savannah, georgia. Oct 05, 2009 the us chemical safety board, in its final draft report released on 24th sep 2009 has said that the february 7, 2008, explosion at the imperial sugar refinery in port wentworth, georgia, resulted from ongoing releases of sugar from inadequately designed and maintained dust collection equipment, conveyors, and sugar handling equipment. Oct 11, 2009 washington, dc, october 7, 2009 the u. The littleknown danger associated with refining sugar came suddenly into international focus on feb. The us chemical safety board, in its final draft report released on 24th sep 2009 has said that the february 7, 2008, explosion at the imperial sugar refinery in port wentworth, georgia, resulted from ongoing releases of sugar from inadequately designed and maintained dust collection equipment, conveyors, and sugar handling equipment.
Dust explosions had been an issue of concern among united states authorities since three fatal accidents in 2003, with efforts. The twoway last years deaths of 14 sugar factory workers in georgia could have been prevented if manufacturer imperial. The cause of the explosions and fire where likely due to improper housekeeping, equipment design and lack of employeremployee training. Imperial sugar resumed refining sugar at its georgia plant in june, 16 months after the explosion. The imperial sugar co today said it will rebuild the parts of its georgia sugar refinery that were damaged in last years explosion, reinstating it as the second largest refinery in the us. Imperial sugar dust explosion national aeronautics and.
Imperial sugar factory explosion that killed 14 in georgia. Jan 27, 2015 the 2008 imperial sugar plant combustible dust explosion was an industrial accident that changed the conversation about worker safety and created a need for updated legislation. This csb safety video explains how the accident occurred. The company town of 3400, however, will not recover as quickly from the disasters human cost. Imperial sugar company dust explosion and fire essay. The texasbased imperial sugar rebuilt its port wentworth plant, resuming the shipment of bulk sugar in july 2009 and reopening its blastdamaged section in november of that year. Osha is attempting to determine the ignition source that led to the explosion, and whether any osha standards were violated. Imperial sugar refinery explosion 2 the imperial sugar company located in port wentworth, georgia was destroyed by a series of large explosions and fires on the night of february 7, 2008. Chemical safety board csb today released a new nineminute safety video on the combustible dust explosion at the imperial sugar refinery in port wentworth, georgia, which claimed the lives of 14 workers, injured 36, and caused extensive property damage on february 7, 2008.
The facility converted raw cane sugar into granulated sugar, then packaged or refined it into specialty sugar products. Early indications suggest that the imperial sugar refinery explosion occurred due to an excessive accumulation of combustible sugar dust. The imperial sugar refinery explosion occurred at a time when dust explosions where just beginning to come under the microscope in the united states. The mixture of sugar dust and oxygen is a potential explosive. On february 7, 2008, a huge explosion and fire occurred at the imperial sugar refinery northwest of savannah, georgia, causing 14 deaths and injuring 38 others, including 14 with serious and lifethreatening burns. Sep 24, 2009 imperial sugar resumed refining sugar at its georgia plant in june, 16 months after the explosion. The explosion was fueled by massive accumulations of combustible sugar dust throughout the packaging building. One of the things he said was the board identified 281 dust fires and explosions over a 25year period that took 119 lives and caused 718 injuries. The imperial sugar manufacturing facility housed a refinery that converts raw cane sugar into granulated sugar. The explosion fatally injured 14 workers, severely injured many more, and destroyed most of the factory building. Refining the process as part of its goal to create a new, stateoftheart refinery following a catastrophic explosion and fire in 2008, imperial sugar turned to ron allen to help it devise and implement safety features in all of its facilities. Imperial sugar explosion unit iii 1 imperial sugar.
Jul 26, 2008 atlanta imperial sugar, the owner of a refinery near savannah where workers died in a sugar dust explosion in february, knew of safety hazards at the plant as early as 2002 but did nothing, and. Fourminute video depicting the specific events that lead to the explosion of the imperial sugar refinery in port wentworth. Imperial sugar factory explosion that killed 14 in georgia was avoidable. For 175 years, imperial sugar has been a trusted name in family kitchens all across texas. Sep 24, 2009 an explosion at imperial sugar s plant near savannah, georgia, in 2008 that killed 14 people was entirely preventable, the u. The company says it has adopted voluntary standards to minimize dust hazards and. Here, machinery, support structures, and floors are covered with inches of sugar dust. Visit us for recipes, sugar products, coupons, baking tips, kid craft ideas, celebration tips, videos and newsletters. The company was established in 1843 and has undergone ownership changes multiple times. Imperial sugar company dust explosion and fire csb. View imperial sugar explosion from safety osh 4601, at waldorf college. Imperial sugar settles property claim in 2008 refinery. Chemical safety board csb said in a report on its investigation. According to investigators who arrived at the plant this week, just a few weeks prior to the massive imperial sugar co.
Imperial sugar was one of the largest and oldest employers in this city of 5,000. Analysis cause map 5whys safety goal impacted 14 workers killed, 36 injured material labor cost goal impacted severe damage to plant explosive concentration of sugar dust conveyor enclosed with steel panels primary sugar dust explosion propagation of. Sep 24, 2009 imperial sugar factory explosion that killed 14 in georgia was avoidable. A system of screw and belt conveyors and bucket elevators transported granulated sugar from the refinery to three 105. The imperial sugar company is the one of the oldest continuously operating companies in the state of texas and was founded by one of the original 100 families brought to the state by stephen f. Dust explosions in the sugar industry with regard to. Imperial sugar plant explosion was preventable reuters. This report will investigate the accident that has occurred at imperial sugar production company. As allen will tell you, installing the right equipment is easy. This catastrophe led to investigations by federal agencies of the government that were trying to establish the main cause of the explosions that occurred in the plant. With so much sugar dust created by the refining process, its hard to imagine the imperial sugar refinery tragedy wasnt caused by a dust explosion. Imperial sugar company reported that an explosion occurred thursday at approximately 7pm est at its sugar refinery in port wentworth, ga. Despite the damage, imperial claims it will be selling sugar to bulk customers by years end.
Fire officials believe that an accumulation of sugar dust within the refinery ignited and caused the incident source. Imperial sugar dust explosionfinal investigation report. The facility converted raw cane sugar into granulated sugar, then packaged. Thirty six workers were treated for serious burns and injuriessome caused permanent, life altering conditions. The 2008 imperial sugar plant combustible dust explosion was an industrial accident that changed the conversation about worker safety and created a need for updated legislation. Atlanta imperial sugar, the owner of a refinery near savannah where workers died in a sugar dust explosion in february, knew of safety hazards. Feb 07, 2011 employees at imperial sugar companys port wentworth facility allowed sugar dust to accumulate to extreme levels.
The chemical reaction involved is the same, but the speed at which it happens and the fact that many such reactions occur at the same time are what causes an explosion. The explosion at the imperial sugar plant is more closely related to the burning marshmallow than the digestion of sugar. Review of the imperial sugar refinery explosion from. The occupational health and safety adminis imperial sugar in the order of the us chemical safety and hazard investigation board have conducted extensive studies of this event. Combustible dust explosion and fire prevention act of 2008. Csb investigators reported that on february 7, 2008, one of the silo chutes became clogged, causing a backup on the conveyor and releasing excessive amounts of dust into the enclosure. Jul 20, 2017 the mixture of sugar dust and oxygen is a potential explosive. Unit iii 1 imperial sugar explosion diane fry waldorf college unit iii 2 ceniceros, r. Imperial sugar, highquality pure cane sugar and sweeteners since 1843. Savannah food and industries built the port wentworth sugar refinery in 1917 and sold it to imperial sugar company in 1997.
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