Fourteen people died as the result of an explosion at the Imperial sugar refinery near Savannah last February. Six months later, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration determined dust was the culprit. OSHA says Imperial Sugar managers knew of the problem for years and refused to fix it. OSHA slapped the company with an 8.7 million dollar fine. Victims filed their own lawsuits.
Now, today the Savannah Morning News publicized reports showing consultants warned the company of the hazards years before the blast.
From a 2005 report: “One major problem is still the strength of dust extraction. This is so weak that the powder sugar is not transported away from the machine.”
A subsequent 2006 report reads, “The system is plugged up… the units you have were state of the art… in the early 60’s.”
And another report obtained by the Savannah Morning News says that in 2008, one of six collection systems had major difficulties collecting explosive sugar dust.
Brent Savage represents 12 of the victims. "The fact that they were advised to get new dust collectors and didn’t do it," says Savage. "They were not doing the right thing… they were indifferent to these problems." Savage says his clients are angry.
Imperial Sugar says it didn’t receive the 2008 findings until after the explosion, and as for other reports… speaking on behalf of Imperial Sugar, Steve Behm issued this statement via email: Imperial did take action in terms of repairs and maintenance to its dust collection systems prior to the February 7, 2008 explosion, along with many other efforts towards improving safety at the facility.
Imperial Sugar has appealed OSHA’s fine. Savage says that case will likely be tied up in courts until 2010, but he expects the victims' lawsuits to move forward by the end of the year.
Now, today the Savannah Morning News publicized reports showing consultants warned the company of the hazards years before the blast.
From a 2005 report: “One major problem is still the strength of dust extraction. This is so weak that the powder sugar is not transported away from the machine.”
A subsequent 2006 report reads, “The system is plugged up… the units you have were state of the art… in the early 60’s.”
And another report obtained by the Savannah Morning News says that in 2008, one of six collection systems had major difficulties collecting explosive sugar dust.
Brent Savage represents 12 of the victims. "The fact that they were advised to get new dust collectors and didn’t do it," says Savage. "They were not doing the right thing… they were indifferent to these problems." Savage says his clients are angry.
Imperial Sugar says it didn’t receive the 2008 findings until after the explosion, and as for other reports… speaking on behalf of Imperial Sugar, Steve Behm issued this statement via email: Imperial did take action in terms of repairs and maintenance to its dust collection systems prior to the February 7, 2008 explosion, along with many other efforts towards improving safety at the facility.
Imperial Sugar has appealed OSHA’s fine. Savage says that case will likely be tied up in courts until 2010, but he expects the victims' lawsuits to move forward by the end of the year.
