News Releases

CSB Investigation Continues as Texas City Marks First Anniversary of BP Refinery Explosion

Mar 23, 2006

Washington, DC, March 23, 2006 - On the first anniversary of the refinery explosion at BP Texas City that killed 15 people and injured 170 others, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is continuing to investigate many aspects of the disaster. The Board expects to issue its final report on the accident, including a determination of root causes and new safety recommendations, at a public meeting in Texas City in late 2006.

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CSB Team Returns to Synthron Accident Site as Board Pursues Full Investigation of Fatal Explosion

Feb 07, 2006

Washington, DC, February 7, 2006 - Investigators from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) have returned to the site of the January 31 explosion at the Synthron Inc. facility in Morganton, NC, which fatally burned one worker and injured about a dozen others. Synthron's maintenance chief, who initially survived the blast, died Sunday of his injuries.

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CSB Deploys Investigation Team to Morganton, North Carolina, Explosion at Synthron Inc. Plant

Jan 31, 2006

Washington, DC, January 31, 2006 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is deploying an investigative team to conduct an assessment of the explosion and fire at the Synthron Inc. plant in Morganton, North Carolina, today. The team will gather information to determine if the Board will conduct a lengthier, formal investigation.

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CSB Issues Safety Bulletin, Releases Findings and Recommendations in 2005 Acetylene Services Company (ASCO) Explosion that Killed Three in Perth Amboy, NJ

Jan 26, 2006

Washington, DC, January 26, 2006 - The United States Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today issued a Safety Bulletin, warning acetylene gas producers to take special precautions in handling this potentially dangerous product. The Safety Bulletin follows a year-long investigation into a powerful explosion that killed three workers and injured a fourth at the Acetylene Services Company (ASCO) in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on January 25, 2005.

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CSB Announces It Will Conduct Full Investigation of Daytona Beach, Florida, Explosion; Emphasis on Public Employee Worksite Safety

Jan 13, 2006

Washington, DC, Jan. 13, 2006 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announced today it will conduct a full investigation into the Jan 11, 2006 explosion at a Daytona Beach, Florida, wastewater treatment plant. Two workers died and a third was severely burned. The men were performing maintenance activities at the facility. The blast occurred as a cutting torch was being used near a tank of methanol, a highly flammable chemical commonly known as wood alcohol.

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CSB Investigation Team Travels to Daytona Beach, Florida, Wastewater Plant Explosion Site

Jan 12, 2006

Washington, DC, Jan. 12, 2006 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is deploying an investigation team to the site of a fatal explosion at a Daytona Beach, FL, wastewater treatment plant. The explosion occurred Jan. 11 as workers apparently were performing maintenance activities at the Bethune Point wastewater treatment plant involving a cutting torch near a tank of methanol, according to media reports. Methanol, or wood alcohol, is highly flammable. The team will conduct a preliminary investigation to guide the Board in determining whether to conduct a larger inquiry.

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CSB to Conduct Full Investigation of Nitrogen Incident at Valero Delaware City Refinery

Dec 01, 2005

Washington, DC, December 1, 2005 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, (CSB) announced today that it is conducting a full investigation of a fatal incident at the Valero Refinery in Delaware City, Delaware, on November 5. Two men died from nitrogen asphyxiation the night of November 5, 2005. The two were contract workers employed by Matrix Services, Inc. They were working in the refinery's hydrocracker unit, which produces light distillates from heavy gas oils.

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CSB Investigators to Assess Fatal Nitrogen Incident at Valero Delaware City Refinery

Nov 07, 2005

Washington, DC, November 7, 2005 - Investigators from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) are en route to the Valero oil refinery in Delaware City, Delaware, where two contract workers were overcome and killed this weekend by entry into a nitrogen gas-filled process vessel.

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CSB Issues Preliminary Findings in BP Texas City Refinery Accident; Investigators Present Data in Public Meeting

Oct 27, 2005

Texas City, Texas, October 27, 2005 - In preliminary findings set to be released at a public meeting here tonight, investigators from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board have identified six key safety issues underlying the March 23 explosions and fire at BP's Texas City refinery, an incident which killed 15 workers and injured 170 others. The six identified safety issues were: ​

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CSB Issues Case Study on April 2004 Oil Refinery Explosions and Fire at Giant Industries' Ciniza Refinery near Gallup, NM

Oct 26, 2005

Albuquerque, NM, October 26, 2005 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today issued a final Case Study report examining the causes of the April 8, 2004, refinery explosions and fire that seriously injured six employees and caused an evacuation at the Giant Industries' Ciniza oil refinery in Jamestown, New Mexico, east of Gallup.

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