Imperial Sugar, OSHA reach settlement on fines, safety violations after 2008 Ga. explosion

By Russ Bynum, AP
Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Imperial Sugar, OSHA settle Ga. explosion case

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Imperial Sugar has reached a settlement with federal regulators seeking to fine the company for safety violations after a 2008 explosion at its Georgia refinery killed 14 workers near Savannah.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokesman Michael Wald says details of the settlement will be released Wednesday.

It’s been nearly two years since OSHA proposed $8.7 million in fines against Texas-based Imperial Sugar for more than 200 safety violations at its plants in Georgia and Gramercy, La. The company contested the fines and citations, leading to long settlement talks.

The Feb. 7, 2008, explosion killed 14 workers and injured 36. Investigators determined that dangerous levels of sugar dust accumulated inside the plant and ignited like gunpowder.

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