Date: July 21, 2020
Location: Decatur, Illinois (USA)
Address: 2200 E. Eldorado Street, 62521
Type: Dust Explosion
Fuel: Grain Dust
Industry: Food and Beverage Production (Food Products)
Equipment: Dryer
Company: Tate & Lyle
Database Incidents: None Recorded
Loss: No Injuries
Capital Cost: Unknown
Status: Open
Confirmation: Unconfirmed
Company Description:
According to its website, Tate & Lyle is a food and beverage producer headquartered in London, UK. It has offices and facilities across the globe. The company was founded in 1859 as a sugar products producer, and evolved into a general manufacturer of food, beverages, and animal feeds of all varieties.
Incident Description:
On July 21, 2020, Powder & Bulk Solids reported a dust explosion and fire at a food and beverage plant in Decatur, Illinois.
Fire crews reached the site soon after 6:00 a.m. Officials stated that debris on the viaduct may have caused a dust explosion in a dryer, but no official cause has been determined. According to the Herald & Review, the Decatur Fire Battalion Chief said the fire occurred in one of the facility’s coolers connected to a drying system and may have been caused by a piece of equipment overheating.
No injuries were reported.
OSHA Inspections:
An establishment search turned up one OSHA inspection but it was not flagged for combustible dust.
Sources:
Powder & Bulk Solids
Herald & Review
