Savannah food and industries built the port wentworth sugar refinery in 1917 and sold it to imperial sugar company in 1997. Imperial sugar company reported that an explosion occurred thursday at approximately 7pm est at its sugar refinery in port wentworth, ga. The explosion at the imperial sugar plant is more closely related to the burning marshmallow than the digestion of sugar. 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. Fire officials believe that an accumulation of sugar dust within the refinery ignited and caused the incident source. 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. The company says it has adopted voluntary standards to minimize dust hazards and. 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.
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 acquired by louis dreyfus commodities. Atlanta imperial sugar, the owner of a refinery near savannah where workers died in a sugar dust explosion in february, knew of safety hazards. With 14 fatalities and 36 injured workers the wentworth explosion is the largest sugar explosion of this millennium. The explosion fatally injured 14 workers, severely injured many more, and destroyed most of the factory building. 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. Review of the imperial sugar refinery explosion from. The imperial sugar manufacturing facility housed a refinery that converts raw cane sugar into granulated sugar. Imperial sugar still suffering from refinery rebuild costs. As allen will tell you, installing the right equipment is easy. Here, machinery, support structures, and floors are covered with inches of sugar dust. The company was established in 1843 and has undergone ownership changes multiple times. 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.
Early indications suggest that the imperial sugar refinery explosion occurred due to an excessive accumulation of combustible sugar dust. Fourteen people were killed and forty injured when a dust explosion occurred at a sugar refinery owned by imperial sugar. Dust explosions in the sugar industry with regard to. Chemical safety board csb said in a report on its investigation. 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. Osha announced july 7 that it has resolved litigation with imperial sugar co. Unit iii 1 imperial sugar explosion diane fry waldorf college unit iii 2 ceniceros, r. Imperial sugar company reports explosion at georgia refinery. 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. Feb 07, 2011 employees at imperial sugar companys port wentworth facility allowed sugar dust to accumulate to extreme levels. Imperial sugar explosion unit iii 1 imperial sugar.
The facility converted raw cane sugar into granulated sugar, then packaged. Despite the damage, imperial claims it will be selling sugar to bulk customers by years end. Sep 24, 2009 imperial sugar resumed refining sugar at its georgia plant in june, 16 months after the explosion. Fourminute video depicting the specific events that lead to the explosion of the imperial sugar refinery in port wentworth. The twoway last years deaths of 14 sugar factory workers in georgia could. A system of screw and belt conveyors and bucket elevators transported granulated sugar from the refinery to three 105. Oct 11, 2009 washington, dc, october 7, 2009 the u. Imperial sugar to rebuild refinery damaged in blast.
The twoway last years deaths of 14 sugar factory workers in georgia could have been prevented if manufacturer imperial. The company says it has adopted voluntary standards to minimize dust hazards and included new. Imperial sugar refinery combustible dust explosion. 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. Plus, choven points out, a sugar refinery couldnt deal with volatile dust using the traditional method of humidifying. The cause of the explosions and fire where likely due to improper housekeeping, equipment design and lack of employeremployee training. Osha initiated the inspections following an explosion and fire on feb. According to investigators who arrived at the plant this week, just a few weeks prior to the massive imperial sugar co. Sep 24, 2009 imperial sugar factory explosion that killed 14 in georgia was avoidable. The explosion was fueled by massive accumulations of combustible sugar dust throughout the packaging building. The littleknown danger associated with refining sugar came suddenly into international focus on feb. Jul 20, 2017 the mixture of sugar dust and oxygen is a potential explosive. An explosion at imperial sugars plant near savannah, georgia, in 2008 that killed 14 people was entirely preventable, the u.
The vast refinery was a network of warehouses, silos and buildings eight stories tall connected by corridors of. View imperial sugar explosion from safety osh 4601, at waldorf college. Imperial sugar company dust explosion and fire csb. 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. Visit us for recipes, sugar products, coupons, baking tips, kid craft ideas, celebration tips, videos and newsletters. The company town of 3400, however, will not recover as quickly from the disasters human cost. Imperial sugar was one of the largest and oldest employers in this city of 5,000. Imperial sugar plant explosion was preventable reuters.
Dust explosions had been an issue of concern among united states authorities since three fatal accidents in 2003, with efforts. The current name, imperial sugar company, was established after a change in ownership in 1907. 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. Osha is attempting to determine the ignition source that led to the explosion, and whether any osha standards were violated. 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. For 175 years, imperial sugar has been a trusted name in family kitchens all across texas. Dec 06, 2012 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. Imperial sugar company dust explosion and fire essay. 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. Imperial sugar, highquality pure cane sugar and sweeteners since 1843.
This report will investigate the accident that has occurred at imperial sugar production company. 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. The investigations were done by the two major federal agencies and their reports later. Imperial sugar settles property claim in 2008 refinery. 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. The imperial sugar refinery explosion occurred at a time when dust explosions where just beginning to come under the microscope in the united states. Imperial sugar dust explosionvideo and final report. 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 facility converted raw cane sugar into granulated sugar, then packaged or refined it into specialty sugar products. 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. Oct 01, 2009 despite the damage, imperial claims it will be selling sugar to bulk customers by years end. If that is the case, the agency will issue citations and propose appropriate penalties. The 2008 georgia sugar refinery explosion was an industrial disaster that occurred on february 7, 2008, in port wentworth, georgia, united states. Imperial sugar factory explosion that killed 14 in georgia was avoidable. Imperial sugar resumed refining sugar at its georgia plant in june, 16 months after the explosion. The mixture of sugar dust and oxygen is a potential explosive. Thirty six workers were treated for serious burns and injuriessome caused permanent, life altering conditions. Imperial sugar dust explosionvideo and final report released.
This csb safety video explains how the accident occurred. Sep 24, 2009 an explosion at imperial sugar s plant near savannah, georgia, in 2008 that killed 14 people was entirely preventable, the u. 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. 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 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. 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.