The Department of Justice says it won't be revoking the probation of BP (NYSE:BP) in relationship to the 2005 Texas City explosion which claimed the lives of 15 workers.
In a March 2009 deal, BP said it would pay a $50 million fine over the accident and go through a 3-year probation for the violation of air pollution laws in the U.S. connected to the explosion.
Terms of the deal with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) were they were supposed to finish the work of installing automated safety equipment and perform a review of pressure-relief valves in the refinery.
When BP missed the deadline to complete the work OSHA notified prosecutors of the situation, and the company was fined $87 million for that and other safety problems which emerged later.
The response of the prosecutors was they “might seek revocation and/or extension of probation” until they came into compliance with the agreement.
Prosecutors, after talking to all parties involved, decided to give BP another 18 months to meet the required demands.
Showing posts with label Texas Oil city refinery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Texas Oil city refinery. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Two BP (NYSE:BP) Workers Burned at Texas City Refinery
A pair of BP (NYSE:BP) workers from the Texas City refinery suffered burns while working at the facility.
While working on a crude unit at the refinery, they were burned by steam, one with up to 30 percent of his body burned. He was transported to a burn unit at a Galveston hospital, while the other was taken to a local hospital.
According to Texas City Fire Chief Brud Gorman, the most injured worker suffered burns to his left arm and leg, as well as to his torso.
The Texas City refinery continues to be one of the more difficult challenges for BP, as they lost 15 workers in an explosion in 2005, which also hurt 180 other workers.
They also are now under investigation concerning the alleged release of poisonous chemicals into the area, including benzene. That has resulted in a class action lawsuit against the company.
While working on a crude unit at the refinery, they were burned by steam, one with up to 30 percent of his body burned. He was transported to a burn unit at a Galveston hospital, while the other was taken to a local hospital.
According to Texas City Fire Chief Brud Gorman, the most injured worker suffered burns to his left arm and leg, as well as to his torso.
The Texas City refinery continues to be one of the more difficult challenges for BP, as they lost 15 workers in an explosion in 2005, which also hurt 180 other workers.
They also are now under investigation concerning the alleged release of poisonous chemicals into the area, including benzene. That has resulted in a class action lawsuit against the company.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
BP (NYSE:BP) Sued Over Alleged Benzene Exposure Related to Texas City Refinery
A law firm based in Houston has sued BP (NYSE:BP) over claims they exposed people in the area to Benzene from the incident at the Texas City refinery. The firm, Vujasinovic & Beckcom, represent 120 people who've made the claims.
The incident is in connection to a malfunction of a hydrogen compressor at the ultracracker unit of the refinery.
All 120 of the plaintiffs work at the refinery or live close to it.
In a statement, Vujasinovic & Beckcom said, “As a result of this re-routing, a number of dangerous chemicals, including benzene, began releasing in to the air. These chemicals were continuously released while BP tried to fix the compressor. BP did not fix the compressor until May 16, 2010.”
The rerouting refers to flaring the gasses while they worked to fix the compressor.
Approximately 538,000 pounds of benzene was released into the air during that time, according to the complaint.
The incident is in connection to a malfunction of a hydrogen compressor at the ultracracker unit of the refinery.
All 120 of the plaintiffs work at the refinery or live close to it.
In a statement, Vujasinovic & Beckcom said, “As a result of this re-routing, a number of dangerous chemicals, including benzene, began releasing in to the air. These chemicals were continuously released while BP tried to fix the compressor. BP did not fix the compressor until May 16, 2010.”
The rerouting refers to flaring the gasses while they worked to fix the compressor.
Approximately 538,000 pounds of benzene was released into the air during that time, according to the complaint.
Friday, August 13, 2010
OSHA Compliance: BP (NYSE:BP) Refused, Now Paying $500 Million
BP (NYSE:BP) has agreed to pay $50.6 million for its 2005 Texas Oil city refinery explosion that killed 15 workers. This record payment is because of the company's failure to correct hazards.
There is another $30 million that The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is still seeking to collect from BP. The amount is for other penalties that the company is contesting. This is the largest penalty ever issued by OSHA.
Hilda Solis, Labor Secretary said, "The size of the penalty rightly reflects BP's disregard for workplace safety and shows that we will enforce the law so workers can return home safe at the end of their day." While Scott Dean, BP's spokesman adamantly denies that the company disregards safety in work conditions.
Between now and 2016, BP has agreed to invest $500 million in to upgrade safety conditions. Prior to this agreement, BP has contested the entire amount and only wanted to pay $50 million. Despite the hundreds of violations they were supposed to correct but didn't. OSHA said they gave the company ample time to complete the safety violations, but BP did not comply.
There is another $30 million that The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is still seeking to collect from BP. The amount is for other penalties that the company is contesting. This is the largest penalty ever issued by OSHA.
Hilda Solis, Labor Secretary said, "The size of the penalty rightly reflects BP's disregard for workplace safety and shows that we will enforce the law so workers can return home safe at the end of their day." While Scott Dean, BP's spokesman adamantly denies that the company disregards safety in work conditions.
Between now and 2016, BP has agreed to invest $500 million in to upgrade safety conditions. Prior to this agreement, BP has contested the entire amount and only wanted to pay $50 million. Despite the hundreds of violations they were supposed to correct but didn't. OSHA said they gave the company ample time to complete the safety violations, but BP did not comply.
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