News Releases

CSB Issues Case Study in 2005 Valero Refinery Delaware City, DE, Accident; Report Notes Inadequate Nitrogen Asphyxiation Hazard Awareness Training and Improper Confined Space Rescue Actions

Nov 02, 2006

Wilmington-Newark, Delaware, November 2, 2006 - A tragic accident in which two workers were asphyxiated inside a nitrogen filled confined space could have been avoided through better hazard awareness training and proper confined space rescue actions, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board reports in a Case Study released today.

Read More

CSB Releases Safety Video with Computer Animation; Valero Refinery Delaware City, Delaware, Nitrogen Asphyxiation Incident on November 5, 2005

Nov 02, 2006

Washington, DC, November 2, 2006 - The U. S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today issued a Safety Video on the November 5, 2005 nitrogen asphyxiation incident at the Valero Refinery in Delaware City, Delaware. The video includes a computer animation depicting events leading to the accident, and features commentary by Lead Investigator John Vorderbrueggen, Board Member John Bresland, and a field expert.

Read More

CSB Calls on Oil Industry to Eliminate Atmospheric Blowdown Drums Similar to Equipment at BP Texas City Refinery; Urges New OSHA "Emphasis Program" throughout U.S.

Oct 31, 2006

Houston, Texas, October 31, 2006 - On a unanimous vote of 5 to 0, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today issued new safety recommendations calling on the U.S. oil industry to improve safety practices for refinery pressure relief systems, eliminating the type of atmospheric vent that caused the hydrocarbon release and explosions that killed 15 workers and injured 180 at the BP Texas City refinery on March 23, 2005.

Read More

CSB Investigation of BP Texas City Refinery Disaster Continues as Organizational Issues Are Probed

Oct 30, 2006

Read More

CSB Pursues Investigation of North Carolina Hazardous Waste Fire; Says Likely Origin in Facility's Oxidizer Section

Oct 30, 2006

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today announced it is pursuing an investigation of the fire that burned from October 5 to 7 at the EQ North Carolina hazardous waste transfer and processing facility and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents from the Raleigh suburb of Apex.

Read More

CSB Issues Safety Bulletin on BP Texas City Major Fire: Better Material Identification Needed, Errors During Systems Maintenance Cited; Fire Caused $30 Million in Property Damage

Oct 15, 2006

Houston, Texas, October 15, 2006- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) issued a safety bulletin and new safety recommendations today based on the investigation of the July 28, 2005, hydrogen fire in the resid hydrotreater unit (RHU) at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas.

Read More

CSB Team in Apex, NC, Wraps up First Phase of Investigation into EQ North Carolina Hazardous Waste Fire; Interviews Completed, Documents Requested

Oct 12, 2006

An investigation team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has wrapped up the first phase of its investigation into the fire and explosions which occurred at an EQ North Carolina facility in Apex, NC, the night of October 5, 2006.

Read More

CSB Considers Final Report on Combustible Dust Hazards at Public Meeting Today

Oct 09, 2006

Washington, DC, November 9, 2006 – At a public meeting here today, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) will consider its final report from a two-year investigation of the hazards of combustible dust in industry and is likely to recommend new safety measures for avoiding combustible dust explosions and fires.

Read More

CSB Deploys Investigators to Site of Chemical Fire and Public Evacuation from North Carolina Hazardous Waste Facility

Oct 06, 2006

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is deploying an investigation team to begin an assessment of the chemical fire, explosions, and large-scale public evacuation in Apex, North Carolina, site of a hazardous waste facility operated by the Environmental Quality Company.

Read More

Board Commends the Kentucky Office of Housing, Buildings, and Construction, Says New Combustible Dust Inspection Program "Exceeds Recommended Action" from Investigation of Fatal 2003 Explosion

Aug 16, 2006

Washington, DC, August 16, 2006 - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today formally commended the Kentucky Office of Housing, Buildings, and Construction (HBC) for exceeding the recommended action from the Board's investigation of the fatal 2003 dust explosion at CTA Acoustics in Corbin, Kentucky.

Read More