BP paints grim view of Texas refinery before blast

19 March 2007 07:05  [Source: ICIS news]

SINGAPORE (ICIS news)--BP’s management painted a bleak view of the conditions at the Texas refinery before its explosion in 2005, according to a Financial Times (FT) report.

The Texas City refinery exposed employees to high levels of risk, various levels of management said in copies of BP’s interview summary obtained by the newspaper.

For instance, staff worked weeks, if not months, of 12-hour days without a day off, it said. Maintenance was deferred and training had been scaled back before the explosion, which left 15 dead and injured 500 in and around the facility, it added.

BP’s internal investigation, conducted by a team led by group vice president Wilhelm Bonse-Geuking, took place from April until October 2006 to determine whom to hold accountable, said the FT.

These disclosures came just before the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is due to release its final report on Tuesday.

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Author: Jeanne Lim
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