News Releases

CSB Releases Safety Video with Computer Animation on Formosa Plastics Point Comfort, Texas, Fire and Explosions of October 6, 2005

Jul 20, 2006

Washington, DC, July 20, 2006 - The U. S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today issued a Safety Video on the October 6, 2005, fire and explosions at the Formosa Plastics Corporation, USA, plant in Point Comfort, Texas. The video includes a computer animation depicting events leading to the accident, and features commentary by Lead Investigator Robert Hall, Investigations Manager Stephen Selk, and Board Member John Bresland.

CSB Issues Case Study of Formosa Plastics Point Comfort, Texas, Fire and Explosions: Unprotected Piping, Non-Fireproofed Structures, Lack of Automatic Shutoff Valves Noted as Causes; Flame-Resistant Clothing Recommended

Jul 20, 2006

Washington, DC, July 20, 2006 - The U. S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) issued its final report and recommendations today in the October 6, 2005, fire and explosions at the Formosa Plastics Corporation, USA, plant in Point Comfort, Texas. In addition, the CSB released a Safety Video which includes a computer animation depicting events leading to the accident.

German Translation of CSB Animation of the Explosion at BP Refinery, Texas City, Texas, Now Available

Jul 17, 2006

Washington, DC, July 17, 2006 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today posted on the agency's website a German translation of the narrated video of the accident at BP's Texas City refinery which occurred March 2005. This video, as well as the eight English language CSB Safety Videos, may be viewed online at the Video Room on CSB.gov.

CSB Releases Trailer Blast Damage Information from BP Texas City Accident

Jun 30, 2006

Washington, DC, June 30, 2006 - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced it is releasing detailed trailer blast damage information developed during the ongoing investigation of the March 23, 2005, explosions at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas. The information was posted to the agency's website, CSB.gov, and also provided to the American Petroleum Institute (API), the trade organization that is working to develop new guidance on the safe placement of trailers and similar temporary structures used in the oil and chemical industry.

CSB Deploys Investigators to Explosion and Fire at Universal Form Clamp Co. in Bellwood, Illinois

Jun 15, 2006

Washington, D.C. June 15 ,2006 - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) deployed an investigation team to Illinois today to conduct an assessment of the chemical explosion and fire at Universal Form Clamp Co., located in Bellwood, a suburb of Chicago.

One Year after Gas Cylinder Fire and Explosions at Praxair St. Louis, CSB Issues Safety Bulletin Focusing on Pressure-Relief Valve Standards and Good Safety Practices

Jun 15, 2006

Washington, DC, June 15, 2006 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today issued a safety bulletin following the agency's investigation into the June 24, 2005, fire and explosions that swept through the Praxair Distribution, Inc., gas cylinder filling and distribution center in St. Louis, Missouri. The accident occurred when gas released by a pressure relief valve on a propylene cylinder ignited.

CSB to Conduct Full Investigation of Fatal Oilfield Incident at Partridge-Raleigh Oilfield in Raleigh, Mississippi

Jun 14, 2006

Washington, DC, June 14, 2006 - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today announced it will pursue an investigation into the June 5, 2006, fatal oilfield incident at Partridge-Raleigh Oilfield in Raleigh, Mississippi, sixty miles southeast of Jackson.

Final Report from U.S. Chemical Safety Board on 2004 Explosion Calls on Houston to Enact Stricter Pressure Vessel Regulations

Jun 06, 2006

Houston, Texas, June 6, 2006 - In its final investigation report on a December 2004 chemical plant explosion in southwest Houston, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today called on the city to adopt new safety regulations governing the construction and modification of pressure vessels - industrial process and storage containers that hold pressurized gases or liquids. The case study report issued at a news conference this morning describes the violent explosion of a 50,000-pound steel pressure vessel on the evening of December 3, 2004, at the Marcus Oil and Chemical facility on Minetta Street in southwest Houston. The explosion was felt over a wide area in Houston and ignited a fire that burned for seven hours. Three Houston firefighters were slightly injured during the response to the blaze. Several residents sustained cuts from flying glass, and steel fragments from the explosion were thrown up to a quarter-mile from the plant. Building and car windows were shattered, and nearby buildings experienced significant structural and interior damage.

CSB Deploys Investigation Team to Raleigh, Mississippi, Explosion and Fire at Partridge-Raleigh Oilfield

Jun 05, 2006

Washington, DC, June 5, 2006 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is deploying an investigative team to conduct an assessment of today's fatal explosion and fire at the Partridge-Raleigh LLC oilfield, six miles southwest of Raleigh, Mississippi.

In Final Report on 2004 Toxic Vapor Release from MFG Chemical, CSB Calls for Improved Emergency Planning by Georgia, Whitfield County, and City of Dalton

Apr 11, 2006

Dalton, Georgia, April 11, 2006 - In a final report issued today, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) concluded that better process design, engineering, and hazard analysis would likely have prevented the 2004 runaway chemical reaction and toxic vapor cloud release at MFG Chemical Inc. and said that inadequate emergency planning by the facility, city, and county contributed to the severity of the event. The report was released at a news conference in Dalton today and also posted to the agency's web site, CSB.gov.

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