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In reply to the discussion: BREAKING: 12 dead, 35 missing, about 200 injured in Texas West fertilizer plant explosion [View all]ProSense
(116,464 posts)31. Last Inspection Of West, Texas Fertilizer Plant Was In 1985 (also paid fine in 2011)
Last Inspection Of West, Texas Fertilizer Plant Was In 1985
By Bryce Covert
The Associated Press is reporting that the fertilizer plant in West, Texas that exploded on Wednesday night hasnt been inspected by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) since 1985, nearly three decades ago. It was issued a fine on its last inspection for a violation related to storing ammonia:
The plant was also cited for failing to get a permit in 2006 after a complaint of a strong ammonia smell. That smell was reported to be very bad on the night of the explosion. Storing ammonia at fertilizer plants can be very hazardous; in 2008, the Center for American Progress found a fertilizer plant that stored millions of pounds of anhydrous ammonia in Pasadena, Texas to be among the most hazardous chemical facilities in the country, with more than 3 million people living in range of a worst-case ammonia gas release.
A day after the explosion in West, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report documenting a widespread lack of workplace inspections by state OSHA programs. After surveying 22 state-run programs, it found that the agencies had problems with hiring and retaining inspectors, in part due to low pay. State budget cuts have had a big impact, leading to funding problems, and the federal agency often hasnt taken over state plans because its own budget is too tight. This has meant that a workplace only gets a visit from OSHA inspectors every 99 years on average, with some state programs even worse. In Texas, a plant can only expect an inspection every 126 years.
<...>
UPDATE
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/04/19/1893601/update-last-inspection-of-west-texas-fertilizer-plant-was-in-1985/
By Bryce Covert
The Associated Press is reporting that the fertilizer plant in West, Texas that exploded on Wednesday night hasnt been inspected by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) since 1985, nearly three decades ago. It was issued a fine on its last inspection for a violation related to storing ammonia:
Records reviewed by The Associated Press show that OSHA issued the West Chemical & Fertilizer Co., as the plant was called at the time, a $30 fine for a serious violation for storage of anhydrous ammonia.
OSHA cited the plant for four other serious violations of respiratory protection standards but did not issue fines. The maximum fine for a serious violation was $1,000.
The plant was also cited for failing to get a permit in 2006 after a complaint of a strong ammonia smell. That smell was reported to be very bad on the night of the explosion. Storing ammonia at fertilizer plants can be very hazardous; in 2008, the Center for American Progress found a fertilizer plant that stored millions of pounds of anhydrous ammonia in Pasadena, Texas to be among the most hazardous chemical facilities in the country, with more than 3 million people living in range of a worst-case ammonia gas release.
A day after the explosion in West, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report documenting a widespread lack of workplace inspections by state OSHA programs. After surveying 22 state-run programs, it found that the agencies had problems with hiring and retaining inspectors, in part due to low pay. State budget cuts have had a big impact, leading to funding problems, and the federal agency often hasnt taken over state plans because its own budget is too tight. This has meant that a workplace only gets a visit from OSHA inspectors every 99 years on average, with some state programs even worse. In Texas, a plant can only expect an inspection every 126 years.
<...>
UPDATE
The plant in West was inspected in 2011 by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which issued a fine of $10,100 for missing placards and not having a security plan in violation of Hazardous Materials Regulations. A compromise was reached in 2012 after corrective actions were taken, which included the plant admitting to the violations and paying a lowered penalty of $5,250.
http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/04/19/1893601/update-last-inspection-of-west-texas-fertilizer-plant-was-in-1985/
Notice how Republicans are spewing crap about immigration reform after the Boston incident, but not a peep about the lax regulatory environment that facilitated the death of 15 people, another 35 people are still missing.
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BREAKING: 12 dead, 35 missing, about 200 injured in Texas West fertilizer plant explosion [View all]
dixiegrrrrl
Apr 2013
OP
With the magnitude of that blast, there may not be much left of some of them.
BlueStreak
Apr 2013
#11
Well the Rand Paul regulatory theory is if your work blows up then people won't work there
Johonny
Apr 2013
#3
You know what went wrong and who's to blame, and even go so far as to call it criminal...
Demo_Chris
Apr 2013
#21
Still too soon for political blame, need to find the rest of the dead first.
TwilightGardener
Apr 2013
#13
Thank you. I'm sorry I had so many mis-spellings on that post. I was on the iPhone.
glowing
Apr 2013
#32
I think my ending thought is the need to find our heart. turn toward one another.
glowing
Apr 2013
#29
Last Inspection Of West, Texas Fertilizer Plant Was In 1985 (also paid fine in 2011)
ProSense
Apr 2013
#31