Force Elaine to act on combustible dust!

Combustible dust fires and explosions are injuring and killing workers in factories across the nation. Yet Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao hasn't responded to repeated calls for new regulations to protect workers.

Congress has introduced a bill – H.R. 5522, the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act of 2008 – to force her department to act. Support the bill by urging your representatives to sign on.

We'll send Elaine a copy of the message, so that she knows you're demanding action and accountability.

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

As your constituent, I am writing to express my concern for worker safety, and to ask you to take immediate action to prevent industrial accidents that occur from combustible dust by supporting H.R. 5522, the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act of 2008.

I am sending a copy of this letter to Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao to express my disappointment in her lack of leadership on this issue.

(Edit Letter Below)

Industrial dusts can build up to hazardous levels and explode.  In the last 25 years, there have been 281 combustible dust incidents that have killed and injured hundreds of workers.  Last month, 12 workers were killed and over 60 more were injured in a deadly explosion attributed to sugar dust at the Imperial Sugar Co. in Savannah, Georgia.

In 2006, the Chemical Safety Board recommended that OSHA issue new safety rules regarding this problem.  The agency has had ample time to set industry standards, but it has failed to do so.

In the wake of the Imperial Sugar tragedy - which could have been prevented - Reps. George Miller (D-CA) and Lynne Woolsey (D-CA) sent a letter to Secretary Chao urging her to take immediate action on this issue. That letter has gone unanswered.

Now, Rep. Miller and Rep. John Barrow (D-GA) have responded to the urgency of this matter by introducing legislation - H.R. 5522, the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act of 2008 - that will compel OSHA to issue rules regulating combustible industrial dusts.

Without an OSHA standard, many employers are unaware of the hazards of combustible dusts and control methods, and others have not taken advantage of voluntary standards.

It is a shame that Congress has to tell OSHA how to do its job, but workers cannot wait any longer for these basic protections. We owe it to the victims of the Imperial Sugar, and all prior incidents, to do everything we can to prevent this kind of disaster from happening again.

I urge you to give the Miller-Barrow legislation your full and vocal support today.

Thank You,
[Your name]
[Your address]

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