Record Fine against BP for On-Going Negligence Raises Serious Concerns, Chairs Miller and Woolsey Say
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, today released a statement on the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s announcement of a record $87 million proposed fine against BP Products North America for its failure to correct serious health and safety standards at the company’s Texas City, Texas refinery – the location of a 2005 explosion that killed 15 and injured 180 and has killed four more since.
“The announcement by federal OSHA today is evidence that OSHA is taking the agency’s enforcement responsibilities seriously. These citations are deeply disturbing given earlier commitments to improve conditions after the 2005 tragedy that caused massive death and injury at the Texas City, Texas refinery. I commend OSHA for taking actions to prevent another devastating explosion.”
“I applaud OSHA for taking strong action before other workers could be injured or killed,” said Woolsey. “This sends a clear message to other employers that they cannot ignore the health and safety of their workers.”
In March 2005, 15 workers were killed and 180 others were injured in an explosion at BP's Texas City, TX facility. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board released an investigative report in 2007 blaming BP for cost-cutting that led to malfunctioning equipment and overworked and undertrained employees, and OSHA for failing in its investigative responsibilities. On Thursday, March 22, 2007, the Education and Labor Committee heard testimony examining what went wrong at BP and OSHA with the goal of preventing future disasters.
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