BP safety levels attacked by US regulator - BBC

23 October 2006 11:34  [Source: ICIS news]

LONDON (ICIS news)--The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has attacked UK oil major BP’s safety standards following an investigation into the Texas City, Houston refinery blast in March 2005 which killed 15 and injured 180, BBC news said on Monday.

The BBC said its Radio 4’s File on 4 programme had found that the CSB alleged that eight previous safety incidents at the facility were not properly investigated, and that the right corrective actions were not taken.

It also said BP had failed to adequately maintain instruments and equipment and that the number of training staff at the plant had been cut by 73%.

The CSB was quoted as saying that these cost cuttings were part of a 25% reduction in fixed costs at the plant from 1998 to 2001, which had a serious impact on maintenance and infrastructure.

In July, BP said it had set aside $500m (€396m) to cover claims from victims of the Texas City explosion, on top of $700m previously allocated.

BP’s chief executive was told by a US judge in September that he would have to testify over the explosion.

A BP spokesman declined to comment, saying it was company policy not to make any statement on reports that had not yet been released.

It was unclear when CSB’s final report on the accident would be published.

By: Hilde Ovrebekk
+44 20 8652 3214

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