News Releases

CSB Reports Chemical Dust Explosions are a "Serious Problem" - Nearly 200 Accidents took 100 Lives; Data, Testimony Noted at Public Hearing Today

Jun 22, 2005

CSB Reports Chemical Dust Explosions are "Serious Problem;" Nearly 200 Accidents took 100 Lives; Data, Testimony Noted at Publice Hearing Today

Jun 22, 2005

Washington, DC, June 22, 2005 – Carolyn Merritt, Chairman of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) declared chemical dust explosions in the United States are a “serious industrial safety problem” in opening a day-long hearing into the hazards of such accidents. Chairman Merritt noted the CSB’s preliminary research reveals that nearly 200 dust fires and explosions have occurred in U.S. industrial facilities over the past 25 years, resulting in approximately 100 fatalities and 600 injuries.

News Release June 16, 2005 - Agenda for June 22 CSB Public Hearing on Combustible Dust Hazards

Jun 16, 2005

News Release June 16, 2005 - Agenda for June 22 CSB Public Hearing on Combustible Dust Hazards

Panelists Announced for CSB June 22, 2005, Public Hearing on Chemical Dust Explosions; Nearly 200 Accidents took 100 Lives

Jun 13, 2005

Washington, DC, June 13, 2005 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today announced the names of key panelists who will testify at a public hearing concerning the causes of chemical dust explosions and fires at industrial facilities. The hearing is part of an ongoing investigation into the causes and prevention of dust explosions, like the tragedies in Kinston, North Carolina (West Pharmaceutical Services), Corbin, Kentucky (CTA Acoustics), and Huntington, Indiana (Haye

CSB to Hold June 22, 2005, Public Hearing on Combustible Dust Hazards in Washington, DC

May 05, 2005

Washington, DC, May 5, 2005 - The CSB today announced it is convening a public hearing related to its investigation of combustible dust hazards at industrial facilities. The hearing will begin at 8:30 a.m. on June 22, 2005, in the Horizon Ballroom of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.

CSB_Photo-Destroyed_Trailers_BP_Near_Isom_Unit1

Statement of Board Member John S. Bresland Updating the Status of the CSB's Investigation at the BP Texas City Refinery

Apr 28, 2005

I am John Bresland, Board Member of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board the CSB. We are the independent federal agency that has been investigating the cause of the tragedy at the BP Texas City refinery for the past five weeks. With me at the podium is CSB investigator-in-charge Don Holmstrom, who is leading the field investigation. We currently have a staff of 10 investigators and experts at the site. We expect this field phase of our root cause investigation to continue for a number of additional weeks. In our first five weeks, we have conducted detailed interviews of about 120 witnesses and collected more than 10,000 pages of documentary evidence.

CSB Chairman Carolyn Merritt Cites "Serious Gaps" in Preparedness for Major Chemical Accident or Attack; Says Americans are "Vulnerable" in Testimony Before Senate Homeland Security Committee

Apr 27, 2005

CSB Chairman Carolyn Merritt Cites "Serious Gaps" in Preparedness for Major Chemical Accident or Attack; Says Americans are "Vulnerable" in Testimony Before Senate Homeland Security Committee

CSB Investigation of Formosa Accident Continues; Agency Analyzing Evidence, Determining Root Causes

Apr 22, 2005

Washington, DC, April 22, 2005 - CSB investigators are nearing completion of equipment testing and are focusing on the analysis of evidence to determine the root causes of the Formosa Plastics accident that occurred in Illiopolis, Illinois, on April 23, 2004, taking the lives of five workers and injuring others. The explosion forced a community evacuation and lighted fires that burned for several days at the plant.

News Release April 15, 2005 - CSB Chairman Merritt Commends Georgia-Pacific Corporation for New Reactive Chemical Safety Program

Apr 15, 2005

Washington, DC, April 15, 2005 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has presented the Georgia-Pacific Corporation with a certificate of recognition for the company's response to a CSB safety recommendation following a tragic accident at the company's Pennington, Alabama, pulp and paper mill in 2002.

CSB Investigators Enter Blast Site at BP America Texas City Refinery

Apr 01, 2005

Washington, DC, April 1, 2005, 7 p.m. Eastern time - A team of three U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) investigators entered the BP Texas City refinery isomerization unit for the first time today since the March 23 explosion. The team consisted of Investigation Manager Bill Hoyle, the lead investigator; Investigation Manager Stephen Selk, PE, a chemical engineer; and Investigator John Vorderbrueggen, PE, a mechanical engineer.

Follow Us