About a year ago, the whole nation was appalled with news of the explosion in the Imperial Sugar Refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia. The tragedy claimed fourteen lives of workers and injured dozens others. As response to this unfortunate event, the Democratic members of Congress introduced the Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosions and Fires Act, H.R. 849. When approved, this bill would require OSHA to issue rules regulating combustible industrial dusts like those caused by sugar.

Rep. John Barrow, D-GA; Rep. George Miller, D-CA; and Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-CA (chairman of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee) are the sponsors of this measure.

It was both unfortunate and ironic, though, that a day before the bill’s introduction, an explosion occurred in Wisconsin. Six workers were injured when a coal-dust collector in a power plant exploded as it was being cleaned.

“This deadly workplace hazard has been known and understood too long for us to continue to do nothing,” said Rep. George Miller. “I hope that with today’s bill introduction and the arrival of a new administration, our nation will finally help workers and business stop these preventable, and all too often, deadly explosions,” he said.

The proposed act includes provisions to minimize hazards through worker training, engineering controls, improved housekeeping, and a written combustible dust safety program. It would direct OSHA to issue interim rules on combustible dust within 90 days.

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