https://cen.acs.org/safety/industrial-safety/US-chemical-safety-board-steps/101/i22

US chemical safety board steps up accident probes

New report continues surge of investigations, despite internal upheaval

A new report by the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) continues the board’s push to clear up a troubling backlog of incident investigations. It demonstrates that, despite upheaval in the last few years, the CSB has made progress in its core mandate of determining the root causes of chemical-related, primarily industrial, accidents.

Over the last year, the board completed 10 incident investigation reports, a record for this small, independent federal agency. Historically, the annual completion rate was about three reports, sometimes fewer, resulting in a big backlog of incomplete investigations and growing criticism over delays from communities, companies, and members of Congress.

The most recent report, released June 29, is an investigation of a 2020 propylene release and explosion at the Watson Grinding and Manufacturing facility in Houston. Two workers and a nearby resident were fatally injured, and hundreds of neighboring homes were damaged. It highlights two key safety issues at the firm: the lack of a comprehensive process safety management program to control the risks of its thermal spray coating operations and an ineffective emergency response plan.

The report’s release continues efforts announced last summer by CSB board members Steve Owens and Sylvia Johnson, appointed by President Joe Biden, to overhaul and reboot the board and to clear long-stalled investigations.

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