[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 7, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       COMBUSTIBLE DUST EXPLOSION AND FIRE PREVENTION ACT OF 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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