2008 Georgia Imperial Sugar refinery explosion
On 7 February 2008, fourteen people were killed and thirty six injured during a dust explosion at a refinery owned by Imperial Sugar in Port Wentworth, Georgia, United States. Dust explosions had been an issue of concern among U.S. authorities since three fatal accidents in 2003, with efforts made to improve safety and reduce the risk of reoccurrence.
Aerial view of the damage to the refinery. | |
| Date | February 7, 2008 |
|---|---|
| Time | 7:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time |
| Location | Port Wentworth, Georgia, U.S. |
| Deaths | 14 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 36 |
The Port Wentworth refinery was large and old, featuring outdated construction methods, factors which are believed to have contributed to the fire's severity. The origin of the explosion was narrowed down to the center of the factory, in a basement located beneath storage silos. Large accumulations of sugar dust due to poor housekeeping became airborne from the shock waves, leading to a series of massive secondary explosions spreading throughout the factory. Investigations conducted by the Department of Justice ruled out deliberate criminal activity in 2013.
As a result of the industrial disaster, new safety legislation was proposed. Port Wentworth's economy declined because the factory had ceased operating. Imperial intended to rebuild it and return to production by the end of 2008, with replacement buildings to be completed by summer the following year. Victims filed up to 44 lawsuits for damages against Imperial and/or the company hired to clean up the site. Imperial said that the explosion was the main reason for a major loss in the first quarter of 2008.
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board released its report on the incident in September 2009, saying that the explosion had been "entirely preventable". Investigations by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) reached similar conclusions.