Chemical Exposure Reversal Comes as Board Preps Disclosure Rule

Worker safety groups are calling on the federal agency that investigates major chemical incidents to speed up rulemaking requiring companies to disclose chemicals released after those incidents.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said only last month that 5,000 pounds of toxic hydrofluoric acid were released into the atmosphere during the June explosion at a Philadelphia oil refinery, the biggest of five refineries in the Northeast. Initially the agency said no acid was released in the incident.

Corroded pipes from the acid at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refinery were partially responsible for the explosion and fire that knocked ...