Washington —- The Bush administration Tuesday issued a veto threat against legislation to protect workers from combustible dust explosions such as one that killed 12 sugar refinery workers in Port Wentworth in February.

The legislation, cosponsored by Rep. John Barrow, a Democrat whose district includes the South Georgia accident site, would require the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue regulations for industrial dust that can build up and explode.

The veto threat from the White House said the administration "has serious concerns with the expedited and one-size-fits-all regulatory approach required by the bill, which will impact as many as 200,000 workplaces in a variety of industries."

House action on the legislation is expected as soon as Wednesday.