The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) Feb. 5 said it found "unacceptable" that the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has so far opted not to consider CSB recommendations to broaden reactive-chemical rules for the workplace. In addition, CSB called for regulators to compile data on reactive-chemical accidents, a finding both OSHA and the US Environmental Protection Agency also have chosen to ignore for the time being.
In a letter to OSHA Assistant Sec. of Labor John Henshaw, CSB Chairman Carolyn Merritt said, the board voted unanimously Feb. 2 to designate OSHA's response as "open—unacceptable response." By designating the recommendations "open," CSB indicated it would continue to seek action from OSHA on the requested actions. Merritt said the board is "disappointed" that OSHA had given no indication when it might make a decision on moving forward to extend coverage of reactive chemicals.
CSB is an independent federal agency that investigates industrial chemical accidents, but its findings are not binding.
Responding to CSB, OSHA's Henshaw said, "Our comprehensive approach to address hazards is a sound one. Our goal is to be sure that workers are safe and healthy, and we will continue to work with chemical safety stakeholders to prevent incidents in the future. We welcome the opportunity to continue to work with the board and would consider further information they provide us."
CSB calls for action
CSB asked OSHA to amend what is called the Process Safety Management Standard to achieve what the board sees as a need for stronger government control of reactive-chemical hazards. CSB said improper use of reactive chemicals have led to "numerous" catastrophic incidents that have killed scores of workers over the past 2 decades.
For that reason, CSB said industry outreach efforts still aren't enough.
In the letter to Sec. Henshaw, Merritt wrote, "While the board commends OSHA on increased outreach efforts designed 'to heighten awareness of hazards associated with reactivity,' board members continue to believe that the evidence compiled by the CSB's investigation strongly indicates that a revision of the standard is necessary."
The board voted in October 2002 to make the recommendation to OSHA, which is required by law to formally respond to the CSB. The recommendation followed the release of a 2 year CSB hazard investigation entitled "Improving Reactive Chemical Management." The study called reactive chemical accidents a "significant chemical safety problem" in the US, responsible for continuing deaths, injuries, and environmental property damage nationwide. The study focused on 167 serious accidents over 20 years, which caused 108 fatalities and hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage.
