Focus on Safety at Landmark Sugar Symposium

Top executives and safety experts from sugar companies and industry leaders came together for the Sugar Safety Exchange, a first-ever symposium focusing on production and food safety in the sugar industry.

The meeting was a landmark session in the North American sugar industry – top executives and safety experts from sugar companies and industry leaders coming together for the Sugar Safety Exchange, a first-ever symposium focusing on production and food safety in the sugar industry. The setting was the newly rebuilt and renovated Imperial Sugar refinery at Port Wentworth, near Savannah, Ga.

Imperial Sugar Company has invested more than $220-million in its large Port Wentworth sugar refinery following a tragic series of explosions and fire in February 2008 that claimed the lives of 14 employees and injured others. The accident was blamed on combustible sugar dust.

The primary purpose of the landmark Safety Exchange within the industry was to share detailed safety research, information and technology.

The sugar industry’s position concerning proposed OSHA standards for combustible dust and recommendations for a sugar industry group to monitor, manage and implement action items related to sugar industry safety was an objective of the Port Wentworth sessions.

Andy Briscoe, chief executive officer of the Washington, D.C.-based Sugar Association

Andy Briscoe, chief executive officer of the Washington, D.C.-based Sugar Association, said after the symposium:

“While the driver to do this safety symposium came from tragedy, this meeting of sugar industry safety personnel and leaders clearly understood the objective – to strive for the safest working conditions for all sugar industry personnel no matter what plant or processing facility they work at … and to prevent any future loss of human lives and injuries for the proud, hard-working employees of the sugar industry.”

Briscoe noted that sugar dust created in the production process is just one of many safety issues the sugar industry as a whole focuses on.

During a tour of Imperial Sugar’s refinery, industry leaders were shown the company’s investment in new, state-of-the-art technology from U.S., German and New Zealand manufacturers for safe handling of sugar during production and packaging, including dustless loading devices, dust suppression equipment and special x-ray systems.

Elaine York, safety and risk manager, Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida.

After the tour, Elaine York, safety and risk manager, Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida, called Imperial’s rebuilt refinery, “impressive …” and “shows the extent that Imperial is committed to combustible dust safety. The associates and management should be proud of their achievement.”

Darvin Haupti, sugar warehouse and packing manager for Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative, observed that, “Imperial has done a really nice job of finishing the details for dust containment at the refinery, and they have accomplished a lot in a very short period of time.”

American Crystal Sugar Company’s representative, Brian Ingulsrud, commented, “The design shows Imperial’s commitment to safety. There are no hidden rafters or areas where sugar dust tends to accumulate. It’s an easy faculty to keep clean. I was very jealous.”

John O'Hare of Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative

And, the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative’s John O’Hare said:

“The Port Wentworth faculty gives Imperial Sugar the opportunity to be a leader in new combustible dust safety technology. Out of a terrible tragedy, a great opportunity has arisen, and they are meeting the challenge.”

Sugar Association’s Briscoe observed, “This symposium clearly indicated that the sugar industry is investing substantial time and funds (millions of dollars) into safety. Not only at the Port Wentworth facility as it is rebuilt, but at numerous other sugar processing plants and facilities throughout the U.S.”

Briscoe praised Imperial Sugar Company CEO John Sheptor for his leadership and openness, and all the Imperial employees who helped coordinate and host the important sugar industry safety gathering.

Participants included executives from the American Sugar Refinery; The Sugar Association; American Crystal Sugar Company; Western Sugar Cooperative; Michigan Sugar Company; Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida; Lantic Sugar in Canada; Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company; Amalgamated Sugar Company; the Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative; the Southern Minnesota Beet Sugar Cooperative and its subsidiary, Spreckels Sugar.

Ron Allen, Imperial Sugar’s Senior Director of Environmental Safety, Health and Quality.

“This has truly been a first of its kind meeting,” said Ron Allen, Imperial Sugar’s Senior Director of Environmental Safety, Health and Quality. “It’s part of our ongoing commitment to share the latest information on safety-related news with members of the sugar industry, as well as to any other manufacturers who can benefit from data about combustible dust management issues.”

“Initial response from the meeting is overwhelmingly positive,” said Allen. “It’s important that we as an industry have a mechanism like this to allow all of us to share current knowledge and expertise and learn from each other. It’s all about collaboration and helping each other to create the safest possible environment for all our respective employees, as well as improve our products and services across the industry.”