As part of a settlement reached with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Chevron Phillips Chemical Co., which now owns and operates the facility, will hire dedicated safety and health consultants to ensure compliance with OSHA's process safety management standards.
OSHA issued a number of citations against Phillip's Houston Chemical Complex in September 2000, following an explosion six months earlier that killed one employee and injured 69 others.
"This settlement cannot replace the life that was lost or make up for the pain sufferedy by those injured in a catastrophic accident nearly two years ago," said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao. "But it does mean that Phillips and Chevron employees will be working in safer environments and it signals this administration's commitment to crack down on workplace safety violations."
Phillips Petroleum will pay a penalty of $2,169,500. Chevron Phillips agreed to hire a process safety management training consultant and an operating procedures consultant. Each consultant will conduct comprehensive reviews of the training program and standard operating procedures at the K-Resin facility. The company agreed to implement all feasible recommendations by July 31, 2002.
edited by Sandy Smith ([email protected])