OSHA PROPOSES BIG FINE AFTER HOUSTON BLAST

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has proposed fines totaling nearly $6.4 million for alleged safety violations relating to a fire and explosions at Phillips 66 Co.'s Houston Chemical Complex at Pasadena, Tex. The Oct 23, 1989, accident killed 23 workers, injured more than 130 others, and devastated the complex's high density polyethylene unit (OGJ, Oct. 30, 1989, p. 20). OSHA said property damage was about $750 million.