[unable to retrieve full-text content]Board Action Report for approval of ABSS investigations

MEDIA ADVISORY: CSB Held a Public Board Meeting on September 24, 2021, and Released Two Final Investigation Reports Washington D.C.  September 24, 2021 - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board held a public board meeting on September 24, 2021, 1 p.m. EDT, to release two final investigation reports. The first report details the investigation into a fatal incident on May 3, 2019, at the AB Specialty Silicones, LLC (AB Specialty) facility in Waukegan, Illinois. AB Specialty was making a silicon hydride emulsion when a flammable vapor cloud developed and ignited, causing an explosion and fire. The incident fatally injured four employees and seriously injured another employee. The second report details the investigation into a fatal incident on September 21, 2020, at the Evergreen Packaging paper mill in Canton, North Carolina. The incident occurred when an electric heat gun fell into a bucket of flammable resin, igniting a fire. The fire was inside a process vessel that was a permit-required confined space and spread to a connected process vessel where it fatally injured two contract workers. CSB staff presented its final reports with corresponding findings and recommendations.  Staff presentations are preliminary and are intended to allow the Board to consider in a public forum the issues and factors involved in the case. To submit public comments for the record please email us at [email protected].   Public comments sent in advance may be addressed at the meeting.   Final documents will be published on our website in the coming weeks.  Safety videos for these two events are scheduled for release in October. Chairman Katherine Lemos said, “These two investigations cover several issues the CSB has highlighted over the years – reactive chemistry, hot work safety, and confined space safety. We hope that these new reports and investigations will further inform industry about the risks inherent to these activities and how those risks can be successfully mitigated.”  For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen at [email protected] or by phone at 202.446.8094. Adblock test (Why?)

MEDIA ADVISORY: CSB Will Hold Public Board Meeting on September 24, 2021, to Release Two Final Investigation Reports Washington D.C.  September 20, 2021 - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board announced today its intent to hold a public board meeting on September 24, 2021, 1 p.m. EDT, to release two final investigation reports. The first report details the investigation into a fatal incident on May 3, 2019, at the AB Specialty Silicones, LLC (AB Specialty) facility in Waukegan, Illinois. AB Specialty was making a silicon hydride emulsion when a flammable vapor cloud developed and ignited, causing an explosion and fire. The incident fatally injured four employees and seriously injured another employee. The second report details the investigation into a fatal incident on September 21, 2020, at the Evergreen Packaging paper mill in Canton, North Carolina. The incident occurred when an electric heat gun fell into a bucket of flammable resin, igniting a fire. The fire was inside a process vessel that was a permit-required confined space and spread to a connected process vessel where it fatally injured two contract workers. CSB staff will present its final reports with corresponding findings and recommendations.  Staff presentations are preliminary and are intended to allow the Board to consider in a public forum the issues and factors involved in the case. To submit public comments for the record please email us at [email protected].   Public comments sent in advance may be addressed at the meeting.   Chairman Katherine Lemos said, “These two investigations cover several issues the CSB has highlighted over the years – reactive chemistry, hot work safety, and confined space safety. We hope that these new reports and investigations will further inform industry about the risks inherent to these activities and how those risks can be successfully mitigated.”  The meeting will be held virtually via ZOOM.  The access information will be provided by e-mail to registrants. Registration is required via the below link: https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItdOqpqjkuEhyI9WTTEDzJN1ztNBx0r​Gg  After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Link to Federal Register: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2021/09/17/2021-20291/sunshine-act-meeting For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen at [email protected] or by phone at 202.446.8094. Adblock test (Why?)

August 3, 2021, Washington, D.C. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) investigation team is reporting the following information in connection with the LyondellBasell chemical release incident in La Porte, TX. On the evening of July 27, 2021, a release occurred in the acetyls unit at the LyondellBasell (LYB) La Porte Complex.  Approximately 100,000 pounds of acetic acid was released during a maintenance event. Two contract employees were fatally injured, and 30 other personnel were transported to medical facilities for evaluation and/or treatment. One person remains hospitalized.  The CSB, OSHA, and LyondellBasell have signed an Evidence and Site Control Agreement to preserve evidence. The immediate area of the release is not accessible due the presence of hazardous materials released as result of the incident. The CSB investigation team remains on site conducting witness interviews, documenting the incident scene, and obtaining records to assist in our investigation. For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen at [email protected] or by phone at 202.446.8094. Adblock test (Why?)

July 29, 2021, Washington, D.C. – Today the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) held a virtual public meeting to present an update on CSB activities and progress since our previous virtual Board meeting in April.  Dr. Lemos, Chairperson and CEO of the CSB provided a tangible update on the CSB’s progress and said “… to date in FY 2021, we have issued 9 new recommendations, and advanced 46 recommendations, of which 28 have been closed with successful outcomes.  This is up from FY 2020, which yielded no new recommendations, 15 advanced, of which 4 were closed with successful outcomes. These advancements occurred late in FY 2020 during my tenure.” The Acting Managing Director, David LaCerte, provided an update on CSB’s hiring progress and indicated that a recent hiring action netted a strong group of candidates to fill four open investigator positions.  This effort will be followed with another hiring action for less experienced investigators, and a search for a permanent Managing Director. Mr. LaCerte also said. “…you can expect two board meetings to close investigations in the August and September time frame. The 2019 tragic explosion and fire at AB Specialty Silicones facility in Waukegan, Illinois claimed the lives of four workers and seriously injured another.   The fatal fire in 2020 at the Evergreen Packaging Mill in Canton, NC tragically resulted in the deaths of two contractors.” Additional information on these incidents can be found at CSB.gov along with a recently released safety video focused on the Aghorn Waterflood Station final report. CSB’s Director of Recommendations, Charles Barbee, provided an overview of five recommendation status changes that were recently approved by the Board.  Details of these recommendation changes will be available on the CSB's website as well as a recording of today’s meeting. The CSB’s core mission activities include conducting incident investigations; formulating preventive or mitigative recommendations based on investigation findings and advocating for their implementation; issuing reports containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations arising from incident investigations; and conducting studies on chemical hazards. For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen at [email protected] or by phone at 202.446.8094. Adblock test (Why?)

CSB Releases New Safety Video on Aghorn Operating Investigation Entitled “Silent Killer: Hydrogen Sulfide Release in Odessa, Texas” July 29, 2021, Washington, D.C. -- Today the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released its safety video into the October 26, 2019, hydrogen sulfide release at the Aghorn Operating waterflood station in Odessa, Texas. The release fatally injured an Aghorn employee who was working at the facility that evening, as well as his spouse who attempted to locate him at the facility after he did not return home.The CSB's safety video includes a new animation of the events leading up to the incident, and interviews with both the CSB’s Chairperson and the Supervisory Investigator for this investigation.  [embedded content]In the video CSB Chairperson and CEO, Dr. Katherine Lemos says, “We urge companies operating oil and gas facilities to understand the findings from this investigation and implement appropriate safeguards and training. We need to work together to ensure that our workers and community members return home safely each and every day.” Supervisory Investigator Lauren Grim reviews facts of the event, the six serious safety issues identified in the investigation, and the resulting recommendations. The CSB made seven recommendations to Aghorn Operating, Inc. for safety improvements at all waterflood stations where the potential exposure to dangerous levels of toxic hydrogen sulfide gas exists. The CSB also made two recommendations to federal and state regulators, OSHA and the Railroad Commission of Texas, addressing the requirements for protecting workers from hazardous air contaminants and from hazardous energy.An Executive Summary of the final investigation report, to include an overview of the event, safety issues, probable cause, and recommendations, can be located HERE.Chairman Lemos concludes by saying, “This tragic accident did not need to happen. This is a call to action for all companies, large and small, to step up to the plate to prioritize the safety of your workers and your community.”For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen at [email protected]. Adblock test (Why?)

July 28, 2021, Washington, D.C. The Chemical Safety Board is deploying a team to the LyondellBasell incident site in La Porte, TX. We expect the team will arrive this afternoon to begin their assessment. The CSB will provide an update after the assessment is underway. ​ The CSB’s core mission activities include conducting incident investigations; formulating preventive or mitigative recommendations based on investigation findings and advocating for their implementation; issuing reports containing the findings, conclusions, and recommendations arising from incident investigations; and conducting studies on chemical hazards. For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen at [email protected] or by phone at 202.446.8094. Adblock test (Why?)

“Message from the Chairperson” Highlights Agency Priorities, Initiatives and Objectives Washington D.C. July 27, 2021: Today the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB), released a new video: “Message from the Chairperson." [embedded content] Dr. Katherine Lemos shares three main agency priorities: Our top priority is to focus on the mission: To drive chemical safety change, we need to continue delivering high-quality safety product. Our second priority is to drive efficiency of operations within the agency, expanding our workforce and improving business partnerships. Our third priority is to strengthen relationships with our stakeholders and federal counterparts. Dr. Lemos emphasizes, “These priorities will fuel our productivity and keep us laser-focused on our mission: to improve and raise the bar for chemical safety across our nation.” The message also highlights improvements in agency transparency, which she has emphasized from her first week in office: Public releases of critical facts identified in early-stage investigations Live Board meetings to close investigations and vote on the findings, probable cause, and recommendations.  Videos of these meetings are also accessible to the public via the website. You will hear from the investigators directly as they present the facts, and from the board members as they deliberate their votes. Dr. Lemos closes by emphasizing her commitment to agency stakeholders, “Though we must remain true to our mission in conducting and issuing independent and objective analysis and recommendations, it is important to consider the expertise, knowledge and priorities of our stakeholder community.” For more information, contact Communications Manager Hillary Cohen at [email protected] or by phone at 202.446.8094 ​ Adblock test (Why?)

CHEMICAL SAFETY AND HAZARD INVESTIGATION BOARDSunshine Act MeetingTIME AND DATE: July 29, 2021, 2:00 p.m. EDT.PLACE: The meeting will be held virtually via ZOOM. The access information will beprovided by e-mail to registrants. Registration is required via the below link:https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJItcO2upz0vHfhSClfE_1y6RQrMF_rI7QAAfter registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.PLACE: Public Meeting Hosted via Zoom.STATUS: Open to the public.MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED:The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) will convene a public meeting on Thursday, July 29, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. EDT. This meeting serves to fulfill its quarterly July public meeting requirement. The Board will review the CSB’s progress in meeting its mission and highlight safety products newly released through investigations and safety recommendations.CONTACT PERSON FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:Hillary Cohen, Communications Manager, at [email protected] or (202) 446-8094. Further information about this public meeting can be found on the CSB website at: www.csb.gov.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:Background:The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating incidents and hazards that result, or may result, in the catastrophic release of extremely hazardous substances. The agency’s Board Members are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents and hazards, including physical causes.This document is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register on 07/15/2021 and available online at federalregister.gov/d/2021-15135, and on govinfo.govsuch as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.Public Participation:The meeting is free and open to the public. This meeting will only be available via ZOOM. Close captions (CC) will be provided. Adblock test (Why?)

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