Exploding dust bill

WASHINGTON — U.S. Representatives George Miller, John Barrow and Lynn Woolsey have introduced a bill that would require the Occupational Safety and Health Organization (OSHA) to issue a regulation to prevent combustible dust explosions, according to Occupational Health & Safety.

The Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosions and Fires Act would direct OSHA to issue an interim rule within 90 days and a final rule within 18 months of the bill's enactment; it also would direct OSHA to add combustible dusts to its Hazard Communication standard, the story stated.

George Miller said: "This deadly workplace hazard has been known and understood too long for us to continue to do nothing. [Tuesday's] news that another combustible dust explosion occurred in Wisconsin is further evidence that our nation needs to act. I hope that with today's bill introduction and the arrival of a new administration, our nation will finally help workers and business stop these preventable and, all too often, deadly explosions."

OSHA claims they are already doing enough with stepped-up enforcement and have sufficient standards to address combustible dusts, the story noted.

The introduction of the bill comes on the heels of the one-year anniversary of the Imperial Sugar mill explosion and fire in Port Wentworth, Georgia, the story added.