[CSBNEWS] Safety Board to Review [Formosa plastics] Explosion That Injured 35

[ttweed@wildrockies.org (Tony Tweedale)]

>Date: Fri, 4 Dec 1998 18:23:48 -0500 (EST)
>From: info@csb.gov
>To: csbnews@mail.csb.gov
>Subject: [CSBNEWS] Safety Board to Review Texas Chemical Plant Explosion
>That  Injured 35
>Sender: owner-csbnews@csb.gov
>Precedence: bulk
>Reply-To: info@csb.gov
>
>The following is from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board:
>
>       WASHINGTON, D.C. --- An explosion and fire that ripped through a
>Point Comfort, Tex. chemical plant early today will be studied by the U.S.
>Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), according to an
>announcement made today by Board Chairman Dr. Paul L. Hill, Jr.  The
>incident at the Formosa Plastics Corporation injured at least 35 employees
>and contract workers and at least two members of the public.
>
>      Initial reports from the company indicate that the incident occurred
>when a processing tank exploded for unknown reasons. The force of the
>blast sent a shock wave that blew out the windows of a maintenance
>building 300 yards away. Most of the injuries were reportedly to workers
>who were struck by flying debris, and none were considered
>life-threatening.
>
>      The CSB will rely primarily on its review and evaluation of the
>investigation reports that will be prepared by local responders, the U.S.
>Department of Labor Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA),
>the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Formosa Plasticsí own
>internal investigation.  It will also seek reports prepared by any other
>investigating organizations.
>
>       The Chemical Safety Board is an independent federal agency with the
>mission of ensuring the safety of workers and the public by preventing or
>minimizing the effects of industrial and commercial chemical incidents.
>Congress modeled it after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB),
>which investigates aircraft and other transportation accidents for the
>purpose of improving safety.
>
>       Like the NTSB, the CSB is a scientific investigatory organization.
>CSB is responsible for finding ways to prevent or minimize the effects of
>chemical accidents at industrial facilities and in transport; the Board is
>not an enforcement or regulatory body.
>
>       CSB is currently reviewing or investigating incidents in Arizona,
>Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana (3),
>Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey (2), New York, Ohio (2),
>Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas and Washington State.
>                            -30-
>
>The Board reference number on this incident is 99-06-R-TX
>
>
>
>
>
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