Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act of 2008

COMBUSTIBLE DUST EXPLOSION AND FIRE PREVENTION ACT OF 2008 -- (Extensions of Remarks - May 07, 2008)

SPEECH OF
HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
OF MINNESOTA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 2008

The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5522) to require the Secretary of Labor to issue interim and final occupational safety and health standards regarding worker exposure to combustible dust, and for other purposes:

* Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 5522, the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act. This legislation would require the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue rules regulating combustible industrial dusts, like sugar dust, that can build up to hazardous levels and explode.

* Working families are the backbone of Minnesota and our Nation, and it is critical that all Americans to have a safe and healthy workplace. Unfortunately, due to the Bush Administration's failure in leaving worker safety in the hands of industry, OSHA has issued only one major safety standard, the fewest in its history, and killed and delayed dozens of existing and proposed regulations since President Bush took office. In 2005, over 5,700 workers were killed on the job and another 4.2 million workers were injured. It is clear that there is still a need for greater workplace protections.

* A tragic example of this need occurred in early February when the Imperial Sugar refinery in Savannah, Georgia, exploded, killing thirteen people and injuring many others. When dust builds up to dangerous levels in industrial worksites, it can become fuel for fires and explosions. Combustible dust can come from many sources, such as sugar, wood, furniture, textiles, and metals, and therefore poses a risk across a number of different industries throughout the United States. There have been 281 combustible dust incidents between 1980 and 2005 that killed 119 workers and injured several others. Despite this, OSHA has failed to act to provide the necessary safety regulations.

* The Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act (H.R. 5522) recognizes the serious hazard presented by combustible dust in American industry, and requires OSHA to issue rules regulating combustible industrial dusts. This bill sets a timeline for OSHA to respond, and requires workers to receive information and training about the hazards of combustible dusts. OSHA has known about these dangers for years, but has failed to act. Since 2001, in case after case and industry after industry, OSHA has chosen to emphasize voluntary compliance over setting strong rules and enforcing them.

* Workers cannot be asked to wait any longer for these basic worker protections. The tragedy at Imperial Sugar shows that the threat of dust explosions is very real at industrial worksites across America and needs to be addressed immediately. Methods to control combustible dust hazards are well known. However, as we have tragically seen, voluntary standards are not enough. Without an OSHA standard, many employers are unaware of the hazards of combustible dusts, while others have chosen not to adopt voluntary standards.

* It is time for Congress to take action to protect American workers, because OSHA did not. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act to save American workers from harm.

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