(House of Representatives: Washington, D.C.) -- On March 3, U.S. representatives George Miller (D-California) and John Barrow (D-Georgia) announced legislation to help prevent combustible dust explosions such as the one at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia, which in early February killed 12 workers and critically injured 11 others. Miller, the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, also announced a full committee hearing into the worksite risks of dust explosions.
The Miller-Barrow legislation would force the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue rules regulating combustible industrial dusts, such as sugar dust, which can build up to hazardous levels and explode. OSHA already has the authority to issue such a rule without Congress passing new legislation, but the agency has failed to act despite the fact that the dangers of combustible dust have been well known for years.

 …