Second Volume of Chemical Incident Reports Available

Volume 2 of the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board’s chemical incident reports was released March 12. The new release includes summaries and probable causes of 25 incidents that occurred between May 2020 and August 2024. Together, the incidents claimed 7 lives, caused 23 serious injuries, and resulted in property damage totaling nearly $1 billion. The information about each incident’s probable cause has not previously been made public, according to CSB.

The two volumes of reports are based on information CSB received in compliance with its accidental release reporting rule, which went into effect in March 2020. The rule requires reporting of any accidental release that results in a fatality, a serious injury, or substantial damage to property.

“This second volume of reports is another step that the CSB is taking to keep the American people informed about the serious chemical incidents that occur nearly every day across this country,” said CSB Chairperson Steve Owens. “Since the CSB’s reporting rule went into effect five years ago, the CSB has received reports of nearly 500 serious chemical incidents in 43 states.”

Volume 2 (PDF) is available from the CSB website. For more information, read the agency’s news release. The first volume of reports (PDF), released in January, covered 26 incidents between April 2020 and September 2023.