CSB Releases First Volume of Chemical Incident Reports

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board has released a compilation of summaries of chemical accidents that have occurred since the agency’s accidental release reporting rule went into effect in March 2020. The compilation presents summaries and probable causes of 26 incidents in chronological order, beginning with the release of hydrogen and hydrocarbon gas at the Valero Meraux refinery in Meraux, Louisiana, in April 2020 and concluding with the collapse of a distillation tower at the BASF TOTALEnergies facility in Port Arthur, Texas, in September 2023.

Together, the 26 incidents resulted in five fatalities, 17 serious injuries, and approximately $700 million in property damage, according to CSB. While data about some of these incidents was available on the CSB website, information about their probable causes has not previously been released, and none of the incidents were the subject of CSB investigations. The statements of probable cause reflect CSB’s determinations based on investigations conducted by the companies and, in some cases, on OSHA reports.

“The American people have a right to know about the kinds of dangerous chemical incidents that happen across this country every week,” said CSB Chairperson Steve Owens. “Since the CSB’s reporting rule went into effect, the agency has received hundreds of reports on incidents involving releases of hazardous chemicals that have put communities, workers, and the environment at serious risk.”

CSB designated the compilation as “volume 1,” indicating that it plans to publish additional reports. The compilation is available as a PDF from the agency’s website. For more information, refer to the CSB news release.