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Wednesday, 07 January, 2009, 21:10 GMT | more >>

BP gilds the lily after blast



By Upstream staff 

BP said an interim report issued last week on a deadly blast at its Texas City, Texas, refinery did not find the explosion's "root causes" but instead identified "provisional critical factors."

The report contradicts statements made 17 May by president of BP Products North America Russ Pillari, the subsidiary that operates the refinery, when he unveiled the findings.

"The (investigation) team decided to publish an 'interim' report because they do not expect that (future) work to change the root causes of the accident or the findings and recommendations made public today," Pillari said.

The interim report stated that the primary cause of the 23 March blast that killed 15 workers and injured 170 other people was the fault of hourly workers and their supervisors, who failed to follow written procedures while restarting an octane-enhancing unit.

"We used the wrong language to describe the report's findings," said BP spokesman Hugh Depland. "Our fault."

Depland's statement came after officials of the union that represents BP workers and families of the victims criticized the findings as passing responsibility from the company to low-level workers. They brought up the design of the unit that exploded and the location of temporary trailers where those killed were working, as the causes of their deaths.

So far, five BP employees have been fired for their roles in the events leading up to the blast.

Wednesday, 25 May, 2005, 16:10 GMT  | last updated: Wednesday, 25 May, 2005, 16:13 GMT

Consolation prize: BP tries to smooth over accusations
 

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