georgia sugar explosion georgia sugar explosion industrial disaster occurred february georgia united_states people killed injured dust explosion occurred sugar owned dust explosions issue concern united_states authorities fatal accidents efforts improve safety reduce risk large old featuring outdated construction methods factors believed contributed fire severity origin explosion narrowed center factory believed occurred basement beneath storage investigations conducted ruled deliberate criminal activity result disaster new safety legislation proposed local economy declined factory closed imperial intended rebuild return production end replacement buildings completed summer following year victims filed legal suits damages owner company hired clean imperial said explosion main reason major loss quarter released report incident september saying explosion entirely investigations concluded sugar dust fuel explosion prevented september suits filed cleaning contractor eighteen settled background sugar story structure bank based texas bought brand previous local owner known construction crystals main employer town prior disaster constructed people moved louisiana specifically purpose opened following year imperial bought form national supply distribution network meet demand businesses sat acres km2 site spread square feet network second largest workers described factory machinery dating years said site kept operating good access rail shipping links transport fiscal year disaster ended september facility refined million sugar nation requirements compared imperial louisiana refined million sugar time period raw sugar supplied facility came overseas year company expected vast majority come abroad year explosion time leading explosion run financial difficulties fiscal year ending september sales fell profits year fourth quarter stock half april annual reports imperial explosion said damage facility port material effect company business financial condition results operations cash flows conducted study risks presented dust explosions fatal accidents year explosion killed persons manufacturing plant explosion killed seven automotive parts plant explosion killed prompting report report showed explosions involving dust resulting deaths injuries board found dust explosions posed severe risk number recommendations partly implemented board continued concerned potential fatal accidents imperial scene explosion explosion emergency response explosion occurred local time initially believed room sugar workers witnesses south_carolina reported seeing flames shoot stories high employees site time explosion occurred center storage facilities fed completed product network elevators belts buildings stories high narrow gaps responded scene counties firefighters united_states_coast_guard closed river area boat resulting fire river helicopter search river thrown blast workers brought assist search rescue operations emergency services personnel unfamiliar plant layout red_cross worker arrive scene reported like walking hell men treated having skin skin alerted local hospitals prepare casualties doctor nearby memorial health hospital described patients arriving emergency varying condition suffering minor burns hands having received burns critical condition burns victims ages ranged victims placed artificial life support systems transported helicopter specialized georgia hour away injured later died receiving treatment church close point families seeking information relatives employed facility people turned police requested family send representative close day explosion people missing confirmed deaths overnight deep seated fires uncovered continued day mile stretch river previously closed reopened restriction patrol remained place enforce safety zone river restrictions delayed outgoing vessel incoming ones minor oil spill originating equipment rarely dock explosion seriously weakened structure facility leaving highly unstable extensive smoke damage packaging area totally destroyed demolished explosion removal debris began day accident assistance structural engineers missing persons found dead day tunnels running beneath factory final death toll thirteen major sugar shut plant louisiana aftermath hurricane katrina february worst fire extinguished foot sugar storage remained despite attempts fire thousands gallons water helicopter specialist crews equipment called complete work sugar time seven bodies recovered eighth person died hospital investigation location explosion quickly established building store refined sugar prior packaging foot tall inches thick reinforced concrete storage adjacent pictured according ceo accumulated sugar dust likely acted like gunpowder plant time explosion survived protected heavy equipment shore partially collapsed structure firefighters enter search victims hours explosive substance identified sugar dust federal investigations launched interviewed witnesses checked documentation conducted scene examination plant arrived hours hours brief investigations conducted state firefighters police explosives ended quickly confirming evidence explosion fire having deliberately started press conference held february members team said explosion showed ongoing risk dust explosions despite report highlighting matter investigators unable enter ruled hazardous explosion able access area demolished time took place months disaster investigators believed explosion started basement area beneath sugar fed packaging building belts factory outdated construction materials methods believed contributed severity blaze ceiling wooden tongue groove design known fat lighter fire risk posed interviews employees conducted uncovered lack training workers reported receiving training exit building emergency employees recalled having fire drill aftermath initial response imperial louisiana shut company weeks port disaster fears similar explosion occur kept operating week fined imperial safety legislation violations plant georgia plant workers continued receive payment imperial assist cleanup demolition parts salvaged work began april imperial board confirmed intention rebuild plan plant return sugar end demolition sugar conducted june ball replacement packaging building new sugar intended completed summer demolition pounds fire hardened sugar recovered pounds second company hoped product production quarter imperial posted million loss said primarily explosion port suffered economic depression accident local businesses losing customers purchased reports month accident fearing relevant employers unaware facilities presented risk dust explosions sent letter employees alert danger similar explosion occurring proposed new bill aimed introducing regulations reduce risk dust explosions bill passed united states house_of_representatives passed united_states senate began developing federal standard dust congress introduced bill require issue interim standard based voluntary standard set march female worker arms burnt sued savannah company contract clean factory april widow sued wholly owned subsidiary imperial bought factory owned august succumbed injuries bringing total number deaths fourteen suffered burns percent body died joseph burn center remained explosion february monument honoring people lost explosion dedicated legacy park grounds port plant fined imperial million citing company violations port plant plant louisiana settlement negotiations company agreed pay million admitting fault released report september saying explosion entirely noted sugar industry aware risk dust explosions specifically internal company managers expressed concern potential explosions sugar dust recently construction changes enabled accumulation sugar dust practiced evacuation procedures lack emergency lighting meant people confined dark tunnels time explosions legal issues victims disaster continued file claims cleaning contractor september civil suits filed relation explosion eighteen settled state appeals court rejected effort defendants attorneys pre trial appeal related cases effort limit damages worker underwent burns covering body plant explosion settled lawsuit company undisclosed victim leave hospital burn unit requested attorney georgia pursue criminal prosecution executives cited imperial safety violations finding company acted plain indifference intentional disregard employee safety health said evidence intentional disregard plain indifference bring criminal charges imperial cited lack federal criminal laws specifically related safety sugar industry reason decision
2008 Georgia sugar refinery explosion