In a striking revelation, a federal agency has indicated that Didion Milling, a corn mill in Cambria, has not acted on any of the safety recommendations provided after a tragic explosion in 2017. This incident, which resulted in five fatalities and 14 injuries, continues to cast a shadow over the company’s safety practices.
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) had, in December 2023, issued a letter to Didion Milling outlining nine safety recommendations. Central to these was the suggestion to engage a third party to develop a “comprehensive combustible dust process safety management system.”
Despite a July 2024 communication from Didion Milling to the CSB asserting efforts to comply with an agreement reached with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), there remains a notable absence of progress on the CSB’s recommendations. This follows a $1.8 million settlement with OSHA agreed upon in 2023.
The CSB has clarified that its suggestions are distinct from OSHA’s requirements, aiming to address “various other identified gaps in Didion’s inadequate safety management system, as well as the company’s failure to properly implement other safety standards and guidance.”
Recently, the CSB reached out again to Didion, presenting a final opportunity for the company to act. Without a response or action, the board may close the recommendations with a status of “closed with an unacceptable response” or “no response received.”
Notably, the CSB lacks the authority to impose fines. The agency, which also investigated a 2018 refinery explosion in Superior, faces a potential elimination under President Donald Trump’s proposed 2026 budget.
CSB Chairperson Steve Owens emphasized the importance of the board’s recommendations, stating, “Safety recommendations are the primary tool that the agency has to help prevent future horrific incidents that kill and seriously injure people like the massive explosions that occurred at Didion’s facility.” He urged the company to “respond constructively and take action toward implementing these recommendations.”
