News Releases

Board Releases Safety Bulletin on Nitrogen Asphyxiation Hazards, Underscores Need for Good Safety Practices

Jun 25, 2003

Washington, DC - June 25, 2003) Reporting that nitrogen asphyxiation has caused 80 fatalities in the U.S. over the last decade, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today released a new safety bulletin that presents a series of good safety practices to prevent nitrogen-related incidents.

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Preliminary Findings Confirm Blast at West Pharmaceutical Services in Kinston, NC, Was a Dust Explosion Fueled by Plastic Powder Used in Manufacturing

Jun 18, 2003

(Kinston, NC - June 18, 2003) Investigators from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) told a community audience here tonight that last January's massive blast at medical device maker West Pharmaceutical Services, which killed six workers and injured dozens more, was in fact an explosion of fine plastic powder used in the manufacturing of rubber products.

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CSB Board Votes 5-0 to Approve Report on DPC Chlorine Release, Calls for Industry-Wide System for Hose Identification

May 01, 2003

(Festus, MO - May 1, 2003) Saying that better equipment maintenance and quality assurance programs could have prevented last year's atmospheric release of chlorine from DPC Enterprises in Festus, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board today approved its final report and recommendations on the accident and called for industry-wide measures to improve chlorine safety.

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CSB Releases Preliminary Findings in Kaltech Industries April 25, 2002, Explosion in New York - Cites Improper Mixing of Waste Chemicals, Lack of Workplace Safety Procedures

Apr 16, 2003

(New York City - April 16, 2003) The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today will present preliminary findings from an investigation into the April 25, 2002, explosion at Kaltech Industries, which injured 31 people seriously enough to seek hospital treatment, including 14 members of the public.

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CSB Sending Investigation Team To Explosion Site In Louisville, KY

Apr 11, 2003

(Washington, DC, April 11, 2003) The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board is deploying a team of investigators to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the explosion and ammonia gas release at the D.D. Williamson & Co. food additive manufacturing plant in Louisville, KY.

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Board Member Poje Testifies in New Jersey on Reactive Hazards

Mar 17, 2003

Washington, DC - March 17, 2003 - Board Member Dr. Gerald Poje told New Jersey state regulators in Trenton today that their new proposed reactive hazards regulation "includes actions in line with the Board's recommendations to OSHA." Reactive hazards are the dangers associated with uncontrolled chemical reactions in industrial processes. These uncontrolled reactions - such as thermal runaways and chemical decompositions - have been responsible for numerous fires, explosions, and toxic gas releases. From 1980 and 2001, 167 serious reactive accidents caused 108 fatalities in the U.S., according to the CSB's reactive hazards investigation.

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CSB Board Unanimously Finds Inadequate Fire Detection and Protection Systems Led to May 1st Disaster at Houston Area Third Coast Plant

Mar 06, 2003

(Houston, TX - March 6, 2003) Better fire protection systems could have suppressed the huge fire that swept through the Third Coast Industries facility south of the city last year, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has found in a report approved unanimously today at a CSB public meeting in Houston.

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CSB Investigation Finds Inadequate Fire Detection and Protection Systems Led to May 1st Disaster at Houston Area Third Coast Plant

Mar 06, 2003

(Houston, TX - March 6, 2003) Better fire protection systems could have suppressed the huge fire that swept through the Third Coast Industries facility south of the city last year, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has found in a report to be considered for approval at a CSB public meeting Thursday in Houston.

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CSB Investigation Team To Return To Corbin (KY) Explosion Site Next Week

Feb 28, 2003

(Washington, DC - Feb. 28, 2003) Investigators from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today completed their first week's work at CTA Acoustics in Corbin, KY, where an explosion last Thursday caused four fatal injuries and left a number of workers with severe burns. The investigative team will return to the Corbin site next week.

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CSB Investigation Team Enters Explosion Site In Corbin, Kentucky

Feb 22, 2003

(Washington, DC - Feb. 22, 2003) Experts from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today entered the site of yesterday's explosion at CTA Acoustics near Corbin, Kentucky, beginning what is expected to be a lengthy investigation into the cause of the devastating blast that seriously burned more than 10 workers.

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