The federal lawmakers from Georgia are urging the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to provide timely updates and findings amid the ongoing investigation into a December 27 explosion at the Tyson Foods facility in Camilla 

The letter follows the tragic death of one individual in the explosion, which also left several others injured  

Lawmakers in the letter: “Ensuring the safety of hard-working Georgians is our top priority, which is why this incident is of grave concern”

ICYMI from WALB: State leaders push for transparency in Camilla Tyson Foods explosion

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Jon Ossoff (D-GA), alongside Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA-02), urged the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for updates on the status of the investigation into the tragic explosion that occurred at the Tyson Foods poultry plant on December 27, 2024, in Camilla, Georgia, and to request a briefing on the results of this investigation at the appropriate time. 

“Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for Americans by setting and enforcing workplace safety rules. OSHA’s rigorous enforcement of the nation’s workplace safety rules is, therefore, crucial to its mission of ensuring companies comply with workplace safety standards. While we understand that the investigation into this explosion is ongoing and will require time to complete, we respectfully request regular updates and a full briefing on the results of this investigation at the appropriate time. This transparency will be essential to providing affected families and the broader community with greater insight into the cause of the explosion and any progress being made to ensure such tragedies never happen again,” the lawmakers said. 

The December 27 explosion at the Tyson Foods poultry plant, the largest employer in Mitchell County, Georgia, killed one bystander and severely injured several employees. The plant’s operations are integral to the community, and this tragedy has profoundly affected many of the plant’s employees and the larger Camilla community. Meat and poultry plants consistently report a higher rate of severe injuries when compared to other occupations that are typically considered hazardous, such as sawmills, building construction, and oil and gas drilling.

A full copy of the letter can be found HERE and below:

Dear Assistant Secretary Parker,

We write to inquire about the status of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) investigation into the tragic explosion that occurred at the Tyson Food poultry plant on December 27, 2024, in Camilla, Georgia, and to request a briefing on the results of this investigation at the appropriate time. 

The December 27 explosion at the Tyson Foods poultry plant, the largest employer in Mitchell County, Georgia, killed one bystander and severely injured several employees. The plant’s operations are integral to the community, and this tragedy has profoundly affected many of the plant’s employees and community’s residents. Meat and poultry plants consistently report a higher rate of severe injuries when compared to other occupations that are typically considered hazardous, such as sawmills, building construction, and oil and gas drilling. Ensuring the safety of hard-working Georgians is our top priority, which is why this incident is of grave concern.

Congress created the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to ensure safe and healthy working conditions for Americans by setting and enforcing workplace safety rules. OSHA’s rigorous enforcement of the nation’s workplace safety rules is, therefore, crucial to its mission of ensuring companies comply with workplace safety standards. 

While we understand that the investigation into this explosion is ongoing and will require time to complete, we respectfully request regular updates and a full briefing on the results of this investigation at the appropriate time. This transparency will be essential to providing affected families and the broader community with greater insight into the cause of the explosion and any progress being made to ensure such tragedies never happen again.

Thank you for your leadership on this matter. We look forward to working with you on behalf of the workers and families of Camilla, Georgia. 

Sincerely,

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