The CSB issues safety recommendations to prevent the recurrence or reduce the likelihood or consequences of similar incidents or hazards in the future. Recommendations are issued to a variety of parties, including government entities, safety organizations, trade unions, trade associations, corporations, emergency response organizations, educational institutions, and public interest groups. Recommendations are published in CSB reports and are closed only by vote of the Board. The CSB tracks all recommendations and communicates regularly with recommendations recipients to ensure that the recommended corrective actions are implemented.

For more information, see Frequently Asked Questions about CSB recommendations.


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Recommendations

DuPont Belle Toxic Chemical Releases (2 Recommendations)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (2 Recommendations)
Open: 50% | Closed: 50%

Final Report Released On: September 20, 2011

2010-06-I-WV-1

Revise OSHA 29 CFR 1910.101, General Industry Standard for Compressed Gases, to require facilities that handle toxic and highly toxic materials in compressed gas cylinders to incorporate provisions that are at least as effective as the 2010 edition of Section 7.9, Toxic and Highly Toxic Gases, in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 55, Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code, including enclosures, ventilation and treatment systems, interlocked fail-safe shutdown valves, gas detection and alarm systems, piping system components, and similarly relevant layers of protection.


Status: Closed - Reconsidered/Superseded
Closed - Reconsidered/Superseded (C - R/S) - Recipient rejects the recommendation and also supports the rejection with a rationale with which the Board concurs. This designation may apply when later facts indicate that the concerns expressed in the recommendation were actually addressed prior to the incident, or when a recommendation is superseded by a new, more appropriate recommendation.
 

PDF Document Recommendation Status Change Summary

2010-06-I-WV-2

Take sustained measures to minimize the exposure of hazards to workers handling highly toxic gases from cylinders and associated regulators, gages, hoses, and appliances. Ensure that OSHA managers, compliance officers, equivalent state OSHA plan personnel, and regulated parties conform, under the Process Safety Management Standard (29 CFR 1910.119) Recognized and Generally Accepted Good Engineering Practices (RAGAGEP) provisions, to industry practices at least as effective as the following:

  1. NFPA 55 - Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids Code (2010)
  2. CGA P-1 Safe Handling of Compressed Gases in Containers (2008)
  3. CGA E-9 Standard for Flexible, PTFE-lined Pigtails for Compressed Gas Service (2010)
  4. ASME B31.3 Process Piping (2008)

 


Status: Open - Acceptable Response or Alternate Response
Open - Acceptable Response or Alternate Response (O - ARAR) - Response from recipient indicates a planned action that would satisfy the objective of the recommendation when implemented.
 

PDF Document Recommendation Status Change Summary

Hoeganaes Corporation Fatal Flash Fires (3 Recommendations)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (3 Recommendations)
Open: 0% | Closed: 100%

Final Report Released On: January 05, 2012

2011-4-I-TN-1

(Superseded by 2017-07-I-WI-R10 from the Didion Milling Co. investigation)

Ensure that the forthcoming OSHA Combustible Dust Standard includes coverage for combustible metal dusts including iron and steel powders.


Status: Closed - Reconsidered/Superseded
Closed - Reconsidered/Superseded (C - R/S) - Recipient rejects the recommendation and also supports the rejection with a rationale with which the Board concurs. This designation may apply when later facts indicate that the concerns expressed in the recommendation were actually addressed prior to the incident, or when a recommendation is superseded by a new, more appropriate recommendation.
 

PDF Document Recommendation Status Change Summary

2011-4-I-TN-2

(Superseded by 2017-07-I-WI-R10 from the Didion Milling Co. investigation)

Develop and publish a proposed combustible dust standard for general industry within one year of the approval of this case study.


Status: Closed - Reconsidered/Superseded
Closed - Reconsidered/Superseded (C - R/S) - Recipient rejects the recommendation and also supports the rejection with a rationale with which the Board concurs. This designation may apply when later facts indicate that the concerns expressed in the recommendation were actually addressed prior to the incident, or when a recommendation is superseded by a new, more appropriate recommendation.
 

PDF Document Recommendation Status Change Summary

2011-4-I-TN-3

Revise the Combustible Dust National Emphasis Program (NEP) to add industry codes for facilities that generate metal dusts (e.g., North American Industrial Classification System, NAICS, code 331111 Iron and Steel Mills, and other applicable codes not currently listed). Send notification letters to all facilities nationwide under these codes to inform them of the
hazards of combustible metal dusts and NEP coverage.


Status: Closed - Acceptable Alternative Action
Closed - Acceptable Alternative Action (C - AAA)
 

PDF Document Recommendation Status Change Summary

Imperial Sugar Company Dust Explosion and Fire (1 Recommendations)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (1 Recommendations)
Open: 0% | Closed: 100%

Final Report Released On: September 24, 2009

2008-05-I-GA-11

(Superseded by 2017-07-I-WI-R10 from the Didion Milling Co. investigation)

Proceed expeditiously, consistent with the Chemical Safety Board’s November 2006 recommendation and OSHA’s announced intention to conduct rulemaking, to promulgate a comprehensive standard to reduce or eliminate hazards from fire and explosion from combustible powders and dust.


Status: Closed - Reconsidered/Superseded
Closed - Reconsidered/Superseded (C - R/S) - Recipient rejects the recommendation and also supports the rejection with a rationale with which the Board concurs. This designation may apply when later facts indicate that the concerns expressed in the recommendation were actually addressed prior to the incident, or when a recommendation is superseded by a new, more appropriate recommendation.
 

PDF Document Recommendation Status Change Summary

Improving Reactive Hazard Management (2 Recommendations)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (2 Recommendations)
Open: 0% | Closed: 100%

Final Report Released On: October 08, 2002

2001-01-H-1

(Superseded by 2021-02-I-WV-R13 from the Optima Belle report)

Amend the Process Safety Management Standard (PSM), 29 CFR 1910.119, to achieve more comprehensive control of reactive hazards that could have catastrophic consequences.

  • Broaden the application to cover reactive hazards resulting from process-specific conditions and combinations of chemicals. Additionally, broaden coverage of hazards from self-reactive chemicals. In expanding PSM coverage, use objective criteria. Consider criteria such as the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), a reactive hazard classification system (e.g., based on heat of reaction or toxic gas evolution), incident history, or catastrophic potential.
  • In the compilation of process safety information, require that multiple sources of information be sufficiently consulted to understand and control potential reactive hazards. Useful sources include:

- Literature surveys (e.g., Bretherick's Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards, Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials).

- Information developed from computerized tools (e.g., ASTM's CHETAH, NOAA's The Chemical Reactivity Worksheet).

- Chemical reactivity test data produced by employers or obtained from other sources (e.g., differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, accelerating rate calorimetry).

- Relevant incident reports from the plant, the corporation, industry, and government.

- Chemical Abstracts Service.

  • Augment the process hazard analysis (PHA) element to explicitly require an evaluation of reactive hazards. In revising this element, evaluate the need to consider relevant factors, such as:

- Rate and quantity of heat or gas generated.

- Maximum operating temperature to avoid decomposition.

- Thermal stability of reactants, reaction mixtures, byproducts, waste streams, and products.

- Effect of variables such as charging rates, catalyst addition, and possible contaminants.

- Understanding the consequences of runaway reactions or toxic gas evolution.


Status: Closed - Reconsidered/Superseded
Closed - Reconsidered/Superseded (C - R/S) - Recipient rejects the recommendation and also supports the rejection with a rationale with which the Board concurs. This designation may apply when later facts indicate that the concerns expressed in the recommendation were actually addressed prior to the incident, or when a recommendation is superseded by a new, more appropriate recommendation.
 

PDF Document Recommendation Status Change Summary

2001-01-H-2

Implement a program to define and record information on reactive incidents that OSHA investigates or requires to be investigated under OSHA regulations. Structure the collected information so that it can be used to measure progress in the prevention of reactive incidents that give rise to catastrophic releases.


Status: Closed - Acceptable Action
Closed - Acceptable Action (C - AA) - The recipient has completed action on the recommendation. The action taken meets the objectives envisioned by the Board.
 

PDF Document Recommendation Status Change Summary

Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) Tank Fire (1 Recommendations)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (1 Recommendations)
Open: 100% | Closed: 0%

Final Report Released On: July 06, 2023

2019-01-I-TX-7

Eliminate the atmospheric storage tank exemption from the PSM standard.

(Superseded 2001-05-I-DE-R1 from the Motiva report and 2010-02-I-PR-R4 from the Caribbean Petroleum (CAPECO) report)


Status: Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response
Open - Awaiting Response or Evaluation/Approval of Response (O - ARE/AR) - The recipient has not submitted a substantive response, or the evaluation by CSB staff of a response is pending, or the Board has not yet acted on staff recommendation of status.
 

PDF Document Recommendation Status Change Summary

Kaltech Industries Waste Mixing Explosion (2 Recommendations)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (2 Recommendations)
Open: 0% | Closed: 100%

Final Report Released On: September 30, 2003

2002-02-I-NY-8

Disseminate information on the requirements of the Hazard Communication Standard, 29 CFR 1910.1200, in the major languages spoken by workers in New York City with limited or no English speaking proficiency.


Status: Closed - Acceptable Action
Closed - Acceptable Action (C - AA) - The recipient has completed action on the recommendation. The action taken meets the objectives envisioned by the Board.
 

2002-02-I-NY-9

Establish a complaint and referral system with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) to provide for a coordinated enforcement effort that addresses the following issues: Policy and practice for referring to OSHA possible health and safety violations or unsafe conditions observed by FDNY personnel in the course of conducting inspections, but outside the scope of FDNY responsibility. Periodic training programs for FDNY personnel on how to recognize and refer serious workplace safety and health problems.


Status: Closed - Acceptable Action
Closed - Acceptable Action (C - AA) - The recipient has completed action on the recommendation. The action taken meets the objectives envisioned by the Board.
 

Kleen Energy Natural Gas Explosion (1 Recommendations)
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) (1 Recommendations)
Open: 0% | Closed: 100%

Final Report Released On: June 28, 2010

2010-07-I-CT-1 URGENT!

Promulgate regulations that address fuel gas safety for both construction and general industry. At a minimum:

a. Prohibit the release of flammable gas to the atmosphere for the purpose of cleaning fuel gas piping.

b. Prohibit flammable gas venting or purging indoors. Prohibit venting or purging outdoors where fuel gas may form a flammable atmosphere in the vicinity of workers and/or ignition sources.

c. Prohibit any work activity in areas where the concentration of flammable gas exceeds a fixed low percentage of the lower explosive limit (LEL) determined by appropriate combustible gas monitoring.

d. Require that companies develop flammable gas safety procedures and training that involves contractors, workers, and their representatives in decision-making.


Status: Closed - Unacceptable Action/No Response Received
Closed - Unacceptable Action/No Response Received (C - UA/NRR) - Recipient responds by expressing disagreement with the need outlined in the recommendation and the Board concludes that further correspondence on, or discussion of, the matter would not change the recipient?s position.
 

PDF Document Recommendation Status Change Summary