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Chemical Board makes business case for safety

Plays ‘vital role in driving critical chemical safety change’

Posted April 18, 2017

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released a six-page document presenting the business case for strong safety programs in industry and arguing for its own continued existence. The White House budget blueprint, released on March 16, 2017, removed funding for the CSB. However, the Board argues that its continued collaboration with industry, regulators, standards setting bodies, and other professional organizations proves that it has a vital role in driving critical chemical safety change in the U.S.

According to the CSB’s “Business Case for Safety,” strong safety programs are critical for the economic success of the chemical and petrochemical sectors. The document summarizes four major chemical accident investigations, including the 2005 oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico and the 2013 fertilizer storage facility explosion in West, Texas. The “Business Case for Safety,” explores the costs associated with the Board’s examination of the incidents along with the human and financial tolls to the companies and surrounding communities.

The CSB reports that hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent as a result of chemical disasters in the U.S. Sharing the chemical safety lessons learned among stakeholders and industry is critical to prevent future accidents.


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