Union leader says BP fire casts 'grave doubts' on safety

29 July 2005 23:15  [Source: ICIS news]

HOUSTON (CNI)--United Steelworkers (USW) president Leo Gerard said on Friday that Thursday’s explosion at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas raises “grave doubts” about the company’s commitment to safety.

 

The labour union said the explosion, which caused no injuries, “came on the heels” of the 23 March blast that killed 15 workers at the refinery. The union said it has since pressed BP to disclose “crucial information” relating to the March explosion.

 

USW regional director Gary Beevers said: “If BP spent as much time working on safety as it does on blaming workers and stonewalling our union on information we need to address the scope of the problem, we’d be seeing real progress instead of more explosions.”

 

BP spokesman Hugh Depland said the cause of the Thursday explosion and fire at the refinery’s resid hydrotreating unit (RHU) was still under investigation. The unit upgrades residual oil, Depland said.

 

The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Osha) were investigating the blast. Depland said BP was assembling its own team to investigate the explosion as well.

 

The 460,000 bbl/day facility is the third largest oil refinery in the US. BP would not comment on reports that the Thursday incident may cut the refinery’s gasoline production by 35,000 bbl/day.

By: Brian Ford
+1 713 525 2653

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