OSHA Fines Louisiana Imperial Sugar Plant $36,000

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.occupationalhazards.com/News/Article/79474/OSHA_Fines_Louisiana_Imperial_Sugar_Plant_36000.aspx

March 27, 2008

By Katherine Torres

OSHA cited Imperial Sugar's Louisiana-based Gramercy plant for several serious safety violations and proposed that company pay $36,000 in penalties.

OSHA's March 14 inspection of the Gramercy plant comes a month after 13 workers were killed at the company’s Georgia refinery near Savannah in an explosion caused by combustible sugar dust. The disaster prompted OSHA to inspect hundreds of plants where combustible dust is a workplace hazard.

OSHA’s citations and the penalties against the Gramercy plant, which were issued March 21, include:

* Three filter-cartridge dust collectors inside the building were not equipped with explosion protection systems – $6,300.
* Three air-material separators were not vented to an area outside of the building – $6,300.
* Inappropriate, gaseous (carbon dioxide) fire extinguishers were in the powder mill room and packaging areas. OSHA regulations require dry chemical extinguishers – $6,300.
* Employees working in the shipping area were exposed to the possibility of being struck by 50 pound bags that were not stacked in a way to prevent them form sliding or collapsing – $4,500.
* Two propane-powered forklifts were used in the granulated sugar packaging area, within 15 feet of the unenclosed dust filter bags. OSHA requires electric forklifts in these areas – $6,300.
* A conveyor system’s control panel had an unused opening where sugar dust could get in, potentially exposing employees to fire and explosion hazards – $6,300.


FULL story at link.

[pop goes the weasel]

1. Golly, where's the horse?

I don't know where it is, but let's get that barn door closed.

OSHA is right on top of things, ain't it? A heckovajob, even. As well as insulting--13 people die, and Imperial only pays $36K in fines? Most people who kill thirteen other people through negligence and greed spend some time in prison.

[ConcernedCanuk]

2. 13 deaths, fines of $36k - AND THE COMPANY INTENDS TO CONTEST ???

.
.
.

From the posted article:

In a statement, Imperial Sugar's CEO John Sheptor emphasized he did not agree with the “type and/or severity classification” of the citations and will likely contest them. The company has 15 days from receipt of the citations to contest them before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.

"We pledge to our associates and contractors that we will continue to provide a safe work place," Sheptor said. "Our associates and contractors are themselves involved with and very helpful in achieving this goal."
_________________________________________________________________________

Wow

The inhumanity of some employers never ceases to amaze me.

I lost many of my jobs as a result of my involvement in Safety and Health issues

Cheap employers risking employees safety burns my butt.

I know it will never stop.

(sigh)