Chemical Safety Board On Hold

Abstract

Through the end of 2015, the Chemical Safety & Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) will focus on completing six delayed accident investigation reports, allowing for a reboot of the troubled agency, says Chair Vanessa Allen Sutherland. A better-managed and a more open, public, and transparent board will result, she says. The changes, Sutherland says, will help the board overcome fundamental problems and will ease pressure from CSB’s critics—particularly members of Congress. Sutherland announced the changes at a CSB meeting in October to discuss a long-delayed report of a 2009 accident at the Caribbean Petroleum terminal in Puerto Rico. The board approved the report on a split vote, which is unusual. Board members usually negotiate in private and appear unified in public. The few times disagreements have gone public they centered around recommendations in reports for significant regulatory changes, as was the case in the Caribbean Petroleum document. Also unusual was that ...