Federal investigators found that a lack of preventative maintenance on the explosion suppression system of a bucket elevator was a major factor in the April 21st explosion at Archer-Daniels-Midland Company’s West Plant that resulted in the hospitalization of three employees with burns and other injuries and extensive damage to the grain elevator
U.S. Department of Labor’s OSHA investigators responding to the combustible corn germ dust explosion say the explosion suppression system on the indoor bucket elevator leg was non-functional and in a state of disrepair. Investigators found the Decatur grain processing facility had not conducted inspections and testing of the explosion suppression systems since late 2016.
According to our news-partners at WAND-TV, OSHA cited ADM for two willful health and safety violations and proposed over $324,000 in penalties related to the explosion at the West Plant.