Federal officials said friday that imperial sugar co. Osha officials believe employees in one of the silos at the georgia plant were using a. On february 7, 2008, a series of violent explosions devastated a sugar refinery in port wentworth, georgia. Dust explosion info website for dust explosion information. Imperial sugar factory explosion that killed 14 in georgia. 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. Download windows video download quicktime video download real player video. The twoway last years deaths of 14 sugar factory workers in georgia could have been prevented if manufacturer imperial.
But whats crazy is that sugar actually can be dangerous. Dixie crystal plant explosion since 1917 the refinery at port wentworth, georgia, had been producing sugar. Eighteen cases have been settled for victims of the feb. The explosion fatally injured 14 workers, severely injured many more, and destroyed most of the factory building. Each year, the community pauses to remember the 14 lives lost and the more than 40 people injured in the incident on feb. Imperial sugar refinery combustible dust explosion. Chemical board punts on dust explosions sustained outrage.
What went wrong when two blasts rocked a georgia sugar refinery, the culprit turned out to be an innocuous and. Looking for fun recipes that incorporate imperial sugar. Savannah, georgia, september 24, 2009 in a final draft report released today, csb investigators said 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. Thursday marks 11 years since imperial sugar refinery. This sugar dust explosion traveled throughout the building, causing numerous other explosions as the accumulated dust became airborne and ignited. The company was established in 1843 and has undergone ownership changes multiple times. Imperial sugar coupons 11 printable coupons mar 2020. A few months after that, the chemical safety board took the rare step of rebuking osha for not implementing national safety standards on combustible dust, citing the imperial sugar explosion and.
The littleknown danger associated with refining sugar came suddenly into international focus on feb. Visit us for recipes, sugar products, coupons, baking tips, kid craft ideas, celebration tips, videos and newsletters. Oct 11, 2009 washington, dc, october 7, 2009 the u. Jan 27, 2015 the first explosion took place inside this enclosed conveyor belt, when a blockage caused a buildup of sugar dust and an overheated bearing created an ignition spark. Sugar dust explosion your expert root cause analysis. Explosion and fire at the husky energy refinery in superior, wisconsin.
It also injured 36 and caused significant damage to the refinery. Aftermath of the february 2008 dust explosion and fire at the imperial sugar refinery in port wentworth, ga. The underlying causes of the explosion and fire at the buncefield oil storage depot, hemel hempstead, hertfordshire on 11 december 2005 the competent authority. Imperial sugar, highquality pure cane sugar and sweeteners since 1843.
Fires, explosions, and combustible dust hazards motivation while these incidents and hazards are prevalent in the process industries, practitioner knowledge gaps exist objective achievement of specific learning objectives by the target audience of undergraduate engineering students 2. Csb releases imperial sugar dust explosion safety video. A k st from 200 to 300 is a strong explosion class 2, and could include things like cellulose dust, other organic fine dust, and some metals and plastics. Us department of labor announces imperial sugar will pay more. The cause of the explosions and fire where likely due to improper housekeeping, equipment design and lack of employeremployee training. Oct 07, 2009 by thinkreliability staff on february 7, 2008, an explosion at the sugar refinery in port wentworth, georgia resulted in the deaths of 14 workers. In 1998, an imperial sugar employee suffered severe burns from a dust explosion inside the powdered sugar mill of its refinery in sugar land, texas. For 175 years, imperial sugar has been a trusted name in family kitchens all across texas. 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. This report will investigate the accident that has occurred at imperial sugar production company. Kst, pmax, mie what does it all mean for your combustible. Offering all types of sweetener from traditional granulated sugar, brown sugar, powdered sugar, steviacane and organic sweeteners, imperial sugar is a quality staple for your sweet treats. Combustible dust explosion and fire prevention act of 2008. A system of screw and belt conveyors and bucket elevators transported granulated sugar from the refinery to three 105.
The website is an excellent starting point for those wanting to know more about explosions. In fact, prior to the imperial sugar refinery disaster, there were 281 volatile dust explosions in the united states between 1980 and 2005, costing 119 lives. The explosion was fueled by massive accumulations of combustible sugar dust throughout the packaging building. Control of major accident hazards health and safety. On february 7, 2008, fourteen workers were fatally burned in a series of sugar dust explosions at the imperial sugar plant near savannah, georgia. Chemical safety board csb released a new, 9minute safety video on the combustible dust explosion at the imperial sugar refinery in port wentworth, ga. Early indications suggest that the imperial sugar refinery explosion occurred due to an excessive accumulation of combustible sugar dust. Fourminute video depicting the specific events that lead to the explosion of the imperial sugar refinery in port wentworth. Sugar dust explosion your expert root cause analysis resource. Csb national aeronautics and 3 272011 dust to dust. The explosion was caused by a dangerous buildup of sugar dust at the refinery. 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. Osha is attempting to determine the ignition source that led to the explosion, and whether any osha standards were violated. 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.
Sugar dust that once dispersed into the tunnel was now trapped in a space one tenth the tunnels size. The us chemical safety board investigated this accident and has now released the final investigation report. Imperial sugar refinery combustible dust explosion investigation. 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.
The explosion at the imperial sugar plant is more closely related to the burning marshmal low than the digestion of sugar. Ron allen, the new head of safety at imperial sugar, will be among the. The imperial sugar manufacturing facility housed a refinery that converts raw cane sugar into granulated sugar. By thinkreliability staff on february 7, 2008, an explosion at the sugar refinery in port wentworth, georgia resulted in the deaths of 14 workers. A compelling story about an avoidable disaster that killed 14 workers and severely burned many others. Peterson has written with considerable detail the true story of the imperial sugar explosion in 2007 and the complicated and shamefully secretive process of investigating this tale of longstanding corporate negligence.
Us department of labor announces imperial sugar will pay. Last years explosion at imperial sugar companys savannah, ga facility was horrendous, as it led to several fatalities and serious injuries of industrial workers. Imperial sugar company dust explosion and fire csb. Imperial sugar was urged to comply with national fire. Pdf 2008 georgia sugar refinery explosion rassul bairamkulov.
The explosion and following fire resulted in 14 fatalities and 38 injuries. The blast killed 14 people and injured dozens more. The current name, imperial sugar company, was established after a change in ownership in 1907. Assessment of dust explosions in the sugar industry. The damage done by both the fire and explosions resulted in a destroyed. The fire temperature exceeded 4000 degrees and 45 workers were critically injured. Imperial sugar dust explosionfinal investigation report. The catastrophic imperial sugar explosion that destroyed a building and killed over a dozen people was caused by sugar with a k st of 1. Imperial sugar dust explosionvideo and final report released. Sugar dust is thought to have ignited the blast, which claimed at least.
Imperial sugar company dust explosion and fire essay. Imperial sugar explosion unit iii 1 imperial sugar. Osha initiated the inspections following an explosion and fire on feb. If that is the case, the agency will issue citations and propose appropriate penalties. The packaging area of the refinery was totally destroyed, 12% of the plant was razed by the explosion.
Feb 07, 2011 sugar dust that once dispersed into the tunnel was now trapped in a space one tenth the tunnels size. Managing explosive dust risk in sugar handling schenck process. On the night of february 7, 2008, something went wrong in the plant. Dust explosion info dust explosion info is an information centre for engineers, safety professionals and anyone involved with the potential hazard of dust explosions.
Computer model of the conveyor beneath the storage silos depicting tunnel, clogged chutes, and steel enclosure credit. Dec 06, 2012 fourminute video depicting the specific events that lead to the explosion of the imperial sugar refinery in port wentworth. The tragical accident of port wentworths imperial sugar plant in 2008 fig. Unit iii 1 imperial sugar explosion diane fry waldorf college unit iii 2 ceniceros, r. Sep 24, 2009 imperial sugar factory explosion that killed 14 in georgia was avoidable. Aftermath of the february 2008 dust explosion and fire at imperial sugar refinery in port wentworth, ga. What went wrong when two blasts rocked a georgia sugar refinery, the culprit turned out to be an innocuous and ubiquitous industrial hazarddust. Department of labors occupational safety and health administration today announced it has resolved litigation with imperial sugar co. This contest shall be subject to these official rules and. Imperial sugar dust explosion at georgia sugar plant on. Imperial sugar companys sponsor find the easter egg contest contest begins at 10. Oct 04, 2009 the explosion at imperial sugar s refinery in port wentworth, ga.
Case analysis the imperial sugar explosion close to savannah, georgia in 2008 a massive explosion occurred at the imperial sugar plant in port wentworth. Imperial sugar legacy in 1843, along the banks of oyster creek in what would later become the company town of sugar land, the williams brothers built a mulepowered sugar mill, began grinding sugar cane, and a texas legacy was born. The 2008 georgia sugar refinery explosion was an industrial disaster that occurred on february 7, 2008, in port wentworth, georgia, united states. A k st over 300 is a very strong explosion class 3. A decade after deadly imperial sugar explosion, still no. Firefighters finally put out the blaze at a georgia sugar refinery thursday, a week after an explosion set a silo on fire. Fourteen workers killed, eight died at the scene and 36 injured. Sugar dust explosion and fire invesigation report pdf, 2. 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. Dust explosions had been an issue of concern among united states authorities since three fatal accidents in 2003, with efforts. 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. Imperial sugar plant explosion was preventable reuters.
Sep 24, 2009 sugar dust inside the enclosed conveyor was likely ignited by an overheated bearing, causing an explosion that traveled into the adjacent packing buildings, dislodging sugar dust accumulations and spilled sugar located on equipment, floors, and other horizontal surfaces. More explosions followed, with devastating results. 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. Fourteen people were killed and forty injured when a dust explosion occurred at a sugar refinery owned by imperial sugar. Sweeten things up with imperial sugar, a trusted name in sugar products since 1843. As it turns out, theres nothing unusual about sugar that makes it flammable.
Imperial sugar settles property claim in 2008 refinery explosion. Imperial sugar acquired by louis dreyfus commodities. Sep 24, 2009 an explosion at imperial sugar s plant near savannah, georgia, in 2008 that killed 14 people was entirely preventable, the u. Final csb report on imperial sugar disaster concludes. Chemical safety board csb said in a report on its investigation. View imperial sugar explosion from safety osh 4601, at waldorf college. 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. Osha announced july 7 that it has resolved litigation with imperial sugar co. Protection association nfpa recommended practices for preventing dust fires and explosions. At the time of the imperial sugar explosion, osha did not have mandated requirements for the control of potentially explosive dust, yet recent industry accidents demonstrated the need for a combustible dust standard.
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