News Releases

CSB Deploys to Fatal Jacksonville, Florida Explosion

Dec 19, 2007

A board member and six-person investigation team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) are deploying to the scene of a fatal explosion and fire at a chemical plant which occurred today in Jacksonville, Florida.

CSB Officials Encouraged with Progress Announced Today by New York City in Revising its Outdated Fire Code

Dec 05, 2007

The following statement was issued by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board in response to the announcement by New York today of a proposed draft to revise the city's fire code to include new provisions controlling hazardous chemicals.

One Year after Massive Blast in Danvers, Massachusetts, CSB Analysis Confirms Solvent Vapor Explosion, Examination of State's Fire Safety Oversight Continues

Nov 15, 2007

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today announced that laboratory testing of chemicals involved in the November 22, 2006, explosion at a Danvers, Massachusetts, printing ink manufacturing company is complete, and confirms that the mixture in the tank was sufficiently volatile to cause the explosion.

CSB Investigation at Barton Solvents Des Moines, Iowa, Facility Progressing; Immediate Cause was Ignition of Spraying Ethyl Acetate During Loading Operation -- Agency also Continues Examination of July, 2007 Barton Accident in Wichita, Kansas

Nov 01, 2007

Des Moines, Iowa, November 1, 2007 - Investigators for the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) said today progress is being made in the investigation of a large explosion and fire which occurred at the Barton Solvents facility in Des Moines, Iowa on October 29. The company packages, stores, and delivers solvents and other chemical products, many of which are widely used in the paint and coatings industry

CSB Investigators Deploying to Barton Solvents Fire in Des Moines, Iowa

Oct 29, 2007

Two investigators from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) are deploying the site of today's fire at the Barton Solvents facility in Des Moines, Iowa.

U.S. Chemical Safety Board to Conduct Investigation of Fatal Hydroelectric Plant Fire in Colorado

Oct 05, 2007

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced it is proceeding to investigate the causes of the chemical fire that killed five workers in an underground pipeline at the Xcel hydroelectric plant in Georgetown, Colorado, on Tuesday. Board Member William E. Wright, the CSB's interim executive, said: "The accident in Georgetown was a terrible human tragedy, and we extend our sympathies to all those families and others who were affected. The CSB is determined to understand why this accident occurred and to do everything possible to prevent it from recurring elsewhere."

U.S. Chemical Safety Board Begins Preliminary Investigation of Fatal Hydroelectric Plant Fire in Georgetown, Colorado

Oct 03, 2007

An investigator from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board is deploying to the site of the fatal fire that occurred at Xcel Energy Company in Georgetown, Colorado, approximately 45 miles west of Denver. The fire killed five workers and left three others injured Tuesday afternoon.

CSB Proceeding with Barton Solvents Explosions and Fire Assessment, Investigative Team Returning to Site Today

Aug 07, 2007

Washington, DC, August 7, 2007 - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is proceeding with its assessment of the explosions and fire at Barton Solvents in Valley Center, Kansas, north of Wichita, with investigators returning to the accident site this week to gather further information.

Final CSB Report on Synthron Explosion Finds Inadequate Safety Controls for Chemical Reaction Hazards

Jul 31, 2007

Charlotte, NC, July 31, 2007 - In a final report released today on last year's fatal explosion at the Synthron chemical manufacturing facility in Morganton, North Carolina, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) concluded that the company's management of reactive chemical hazards was inadequate and that the facility was unprepared for a chemical process emergency. The CSB also found that ineffective corporate oversight by French parent company Protex International contributed to the likelihood and

CSB Releases New Safety Video, "Reactive Hazards: Dangers of Uncontrolled Chemical Reactions," Includes Synthron Animation, Three Others

Jul 31, 2007

Washington, DC, July 31, 2007 -The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a new safety video concerning the dangers of uncontrolled chemical reactions. The video features computerized animations and descriptions of four major reactive chemistry accidents investigated by the CSB, as well as commentary by two prominent chemical process safety experts.

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