News Releases

CSB Considers Urgent Recommendations to OSHA, NFPA, Others to Prevent Deadly Explosions and Fires During Pipe Cleaning and Purging Operations

Jun 25, 2010

Middletown, Connecticut, June 28, 2010 – U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) board members are slated to vote tonight on a series of 18 urgent recommendations aimed at preventing fires and explosions caused when fuel gas is used to clean or purge gas pipes of debris, air, or other substances, typically during facility construction and maintenance.

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CSB to Investigate Root Causes of BP Deepwater Horizon Blowout Accident: Announcement Made in Letter by Chairman John Bresland to U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce

Jun 21, 2010

CSB to Investigate Root Causes of BP Deepwater Horizon Blowout Accident: Announcement Made in Letter by Chairman John Bresland to Chairman Henry Waxman of House Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman Bart Stupak of Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

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Letter to Chairmen Henry A. Waxman and Bart Stupak

Jun 21, 2010

As requested, I have attached the U.S. Chemical Safety Board’s (CSB) scoring of the BP/Deepwater Horizon/Transocean incident that occurred on April 20, 2010.

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Statement from CSB Chairman John Bresland Regarding House Committee Request to Investigate BP Deepwater Horizon

Jun 08, 2010

I have received the letter from Chairmen Waxman and Stupak of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, requesting that the CSB investigate the BP Deepwater Horizon blowout.

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CSB Releases New Hot Work Safety Video Emphasizing Effective Hazard Evaluations and Gas Monitoring Procedures around Storage Tanks

Jun 07, 2010

Washington, DC, June 7, 2010 – The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a 14-minute safety video warning of the hazards of welding and other hot work activities in and around storage tanks containing flammable materials.

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Pipe Cleaning Practices that Led to Kleen Energy Explosion Are Common Across Gas Energy Industry, Survey Data Show

May 19, 2010

Washington, DC, May 19, 2010 – The practice of using flammable natural gas to clean power plant piping, which led to the fatal explosion at Connecticut-based Kleen Energy on February 7, has been commonly used across the gas-fired power generating industry, CSB investigators said today.

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CSB Requests Public Comment on National Academy of Sciences Study on Use of Toxic Methyl Isocyanate (MIC), Inherently Safer Technology Alternatives

Apr 26, 2010

Washington, DC, April 26, 2010 — In a Federal Register notice published April 23, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced it is seeking public comment on the design of a Congressionally mandated study on the use of methyl isocyanate (MIC) in the manufacturing of certain pesticides, and the feasibility of implementing safer alternatives to protect workers and the public from a potential release.​

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CSB Investigators Determine that Oklahoma Oil Site Where an Explosion Killed a Member of the Public April 14 was Unsecured, Unfenced, and Likely Lacked Explosion Warning Signs

Apr 23, 2010

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, April 23, 2009 — A fiery explosion that took the life of a 21-year-old member of the public in Weeletka, Oklahoma, on April 14 occurred at an unattended oil and gas production site that was unsecured and likely lacked fire or explosion warning signs, CSB investigators have determined following a four-day field assessment. Investigators arrived in Weleetka on Sunday evening and have been examining the site, conducting witness interviews, and gathering other information throughout the week

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CSB Examining Fatal Oil Site Explosion in Weleetka, Oklahoma; Probe Follows Recent Release of Safety Video and Board Call for Greater Protections at Oil and Gas Sites

Apr 21, 2010

Washington, DC, April 21, 2009— The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced today it has sent investigators to a fatal explosion which occurred April 14, 2010, at an oil site in Weleetka, Oklahoma. The CSB team is headed by Investigations Supervisor Don Holmstrom who leads the CSB’s regional office Denver, Colorado. A 21-year-old member of the public died of burns sustained in the explosion and fire.

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CSB Investigative Team Deploying to Fatal Tesoro Refinery Accident in Anacortes, Washington

Apr 02, 2010

Washington DC, April 2, 2010 - A four-member investigative team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is deploying to the scene of an explosion and fire overnight in a naphtha hydrotreater unit at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, Washington.

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