Imperial Sugar Supports Dust Standard Creation

The following letter from Imperial Sugar Company President and CEO John Sheptor appeared in Letters to the Editor in the Savannah Morning News, Sunday, February 21, 2010:

Imperial Sugar is a strong supporter of OSHA’s efforts regarding a combustible dust standard.

Imperial participated in public meetings in Washington and was also an observer at a meeting in Atlanta. At OSHA’s request, participants such as Imperial, who had participated in the earlier meeting in Washington, were asked to allow others to participate in the meeting in Atlanta.

Imperial also has provided detailed written comments to OSHA regarding a proposed combustible dust standard. In those comments, Imperial wrote, “We strongly support a combustible dust standard. We believe that there is still a low level of knowledge of the extent of hazards of combustible dust in industry, and we believe a standard that specifically addresses that hazard will assist in raising the level of awareness of hazard and how to manage it.”

Imperial will, as it has since the explosion in Port Wentworth, continue to be a strong supporter of the creation of a rigorous common combustible dust standard for all industries. Those who resist a standard on the issue of cost alone fail to understand the horror and tragedy of a combustible dust incident – and are the very reason one is needed.

A standard, properly created, should be science-based and address equipment design, hazard assessment, work procedures, housekeeping practices and overall emergency preparedness. We will continue to participate in the rule making process and continue to share what we have learned with OSHA and with industry.

John Sheptor, President and CEO, Imperial Sugar Company, Port Wentworth