Accountability for Safety Failures: A Landmark OSHA Case

On May 31, 2017, a powerful grain dust explosion devastated a corn milling facility in Wisconsin. The blast claimed the lives of five workers and injured at least a dozen others. Investigators determined that combustible corn dust had built up due to inadequate housekeeping and maintenance, ultimately triggering the explosion.

Following the tragedy, OSHA cited the employer for multiple willful violations and referred the case for criminal prosecution, citing gross neglect in dust control and explosion prevention.