No CSB Field Investigation of Fatal Refinery Incident

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board will not conduct a field investigation of a Dec. 3 incident that killed one of two workers exposed to gaseous hydrofluoric acid at Valero Energy Corp.'s Memphis, Tenn., refinery, according to a board official.

Although the Chemical Safety Board’s resource limitations prevent a field investigation, it is preparing document requests and interrogatories for Valero, Managing Director Daniel Horowitz told BNA Dec. 4. “This is the second fatal incident at that refinery this year, and that is a serious concern,” Horowitz said.

In March, a fire at the refinery killed one worker and ...