Washington DC, December 10, 2010 – A four-person investigation team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is deploying to the scene of a fatal accident at the AL Solutions, Inc. titanium and zirconium processing facility in New Cumberland, in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia.
At least two workers were killed Thursday afternoon as a result of a fire and explosion that occurred inside the plant at approximately 1:30 pm.
The investigative team will be led by Investigator- in-Charge Robert Hall, P.E, and is scheduled to arrive in West Virginia on Friday morning.
The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.
For more information, contact Hillary Cohen 202.261-3601 (office) 202.446.8094 (cell) in Washington D.C. or Amy McCormick at 202.261.7630.