News Releases

CSB Chairman Merritt Declares Full Root-Cause Investigation of Fatal Accident at Formosa Plastics PVC Plant in Illinois

Apr 25, 2004

Illiopolis, Illinois, April 25, 2004 - Calling Friday night's accident at the Formosa Plastics plant here "among the most serious that the Board has investigated in more than six years," U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) Chairman Carolyn W. Merritt announced the Board would conduct a full investigation to determine the root causes of the tragedy and develop safety recommendations to prevent similar accidents in the future. Depending on its course, that investigation may take up to a year or more to complete.

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CSB Investigation Team En Route to Site of Serious Explosions at Formosa Plastics PVC Plant in Illinois

Apr 24, 2004

Washington, DC, April 24, 2004 - Investigators from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board are headed to the scene of Friday night's explosions at the Formosa Plastics polyvinyl chloride manufacturing facility in Illiopolis, Illinois, near Springfield, which reportedly killed at least two workers, left others missing, and destroyed most of the plant. The explosions and fire caused a large public evacuation, cut power to local communities, and closed an interstate highway, according to media reports.

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CSB to Pursue Full Investigation of April 8 Explosions and Fire at Giant Industries Refinery near Gallup, NM

Apr 19, 2004

Washington, DC, April 19, 2004 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has decided to pursue a full root-cause investigation of the recent explosions and fire at the Giant Industries Ciniza gasoline refinery east of Gallup, New Mexico, board member Rixio Medina announced today in Albuquerque. CSB accident investigations typically take 9 to 12 months to complete.

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Board to Conduct Root-Cause Investigation of Chemical Release from MFG Chemical Inc. in Dalton, Georgia

Apr 16, 2004

Washington, DC, April 16, 2004 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today announced it will conduct a root-cause investigation of the April 12 chemical accident at the MFG Chemical Inc. facility in Dalton, Georgia, which triggered a release of toxic allyl alcohol and hydrochloric acid into the surrounding community.

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CSB Investigation Team En Route to Northern Georgia Chemical Release Site

Apr 13, 2004

Washington, DC, April 13, 2004 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announced today it is deploying an investigative team to the site of Monday night's release of toxic allyl alcohol from the MFG Chemical Co. in Dalton, GA, north of Atlanta, which reportedly resulted in the evacuation of residents within a half-mile radius of the plant.

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CSB Investigation Team on Site at Giant Industries Refinery in Gallup, NM, Site of April 8 Fire

Apr 10, 2004

Washington, DC, April 10, 2004 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has commenced a preliminary investigation at the site of the April 8 fire at the Giant Industries refinery near Gallup, New Mexico, west of Albuquerque.

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CSB Deploys Investigation Team to Gallup, NM, Site of Giant Industries Refinery Explosions and Fire

Apr 08, 2004

Washington, DC, April 8, 2004 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announces it is deploying an investigative team to the site of this morningÂ?s explosions and fire at the Giant Industries refinery near Gallup, New Mexico, west of Albuquerque, to begin an initial examination of the accident. Preliminary reports indicate four workers suffered critical burns.

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CSB Provides Interim Report to Community On Three Honeywell International Accidents at Baton Rouge, LA, Facility

Mar 30, 2004

Baton Rouge, LA, March 30, 2004 - Investigators from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) today provided a community update on the ongoing investigations into three accidents that occurred at Honeywell International in East Baton Rouge Parish over a 24-day period last summer.

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New York City Moves to Revise Fire Code Following CSB Recommendation in Kaltech Investigation

Mar 19, 2004

Washington, DC, March 19, 2004 - Carolyn Merritt, Chairman of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), said today the Board is pleased with the progress of the City of New York in responding to the CSB's recommendation to revise its antiquated fire code to better control the storage and use of hazardous materials. The New York City Council announced in a March 5, 2004, news release that the city's fire department has decided to revise the code and has allocated substantial funding in the department's new budget to support the revision.

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CSB to Convene March 30 Community Meeting in Baton Rouge to Discuss Honeywell Incidents

Mar 17, 2004

Washington, DC, March 17, 2004 - The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announces that it will convene a community meeting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, March 30, 2004, to discuss preliminary findings from the CSB's investigation of three chemical incidents at a local Honeywell chemical plant.

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