Hazardous Materials
CSB: ConAgra Explosion Likely Caused by Natural Gas
Based upon its ongoing investigation of the fatal June 9 ConAgra Foods explosion, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) said the blast likely was caused by natural gas that may have been purged into the building during a water heater installation...
CSB Releases Safety Video on Need for Chemical Emergency Preparedness
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) recently released a new safety video showing the need for emergency response agencies, companies and communities to work closely together...
CSB: Bayer Explosion Caused by Runaway Chemical Reaction
A large explosion and fire that took the lives of two workers at the Bayer CropScience plant in August 2008 was caused by a thermal runaway reaction during the production of an insecticide...
Your Guide to the Safe Handling of Flammable Liquids
In the March article, Your Guide To The Safe Handling Of Flammable Liquids, we discussed the chemistry of fire and some fire facts about flammable liquids,...
Your Guide To The Safe Handling Of Flammable Liquids
Last March, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released some startling statistics for the 3-year period ending in 2005. According to NFPA,...
CSB to Investigate Utah Refinery Explosion
A Jan. 12 explosion at the Silver Eagle Refinery in Woods Cross, Utah, injured four workers and prompted a four-member team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) to investigate the cause of the incident....
CSB Chairman Calls for Focus On Process Safety, Accident Prevention During Recession
In his first video safety message on Dec. 22, U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) Chairman John Bresland said that chemical companies and refineries need to continue to invest in process safety and preventive maintenance, even as the economic downturn cuts into sales and profits....
Report: Highest Hazard U.S. Chemical Facilities Can Be Converted to Protect Millions from Possible Terrorist Attack
A new report from the Center for American Progress identifies safer and more secure alternatives for the nation’s 101 most dangerous chemical facilities...
Last Remaining Nerve Agent Eliminated at Umatilla Chemical Depot
According to Conrad Whyne, the director of the U.S. Army Chemicals Agency (CMA), working at one of the nation’s chemical weapons storage and disposal sites is as safe as working in a library....
CSB Investigates Fatal Ohio Oilfield Explosion
A two-person investigative team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) traveled to the scene of an Oct. 19 fatal explosion at a rural Ohio oilfield. The explosion killed two contract workers at a facility operated by Canada-based Mar Oil Co. in La Rue, Ohio, located approximately 60 miles northwest of Columbus. ...
MSDS Gone Wild!
This scenario, while fictitious, is played out a thousand times every year in facilities all across our nation. We all have learned the OSHA rules of hazard communication, 29CFR1910.1200. The purpose and design of the program is excellent: that any chemicals produced or imported are evaluated for hazards and those hazards are then communicated to the employees and employers who might come in contact with them. ...
