USW Says Chemical Safety Board's 'Urgent' Call for Independent Investigation Reveals Depth of Safety Problems at BP

Union will appoint safety experts to participate in investigation

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 17 -- United Steelworkers (USW) president Leo W. Gerard said today that the Chemical Safety Board's (CSB's) "urgent" call for BP to appoint an independent investigation of safety practices at all five of its North American refineries "reveals grave concerns about BP's culture of indifference to deadly safety hazards."

Gary Beevers, Director of USW Region 6, said the historic scope of the investigation -- the first "urgent" call of its kind ever issued -- leaves little doubt that BP's firing of three union members in the aftermath of the March 24 explosion that killed 15 contract workers "was little more than a shameless ploy to cover up its corporate-wide failure to deal with safety issues that routinely put our members in harms way."

The CSB's announcement Wednesday called for an independent investigation that will include examination of BP's safety culture, its corporate safety oversight, and corporate and site safety management. The agency also urged investigation of whether or not there is safe management of refineries obtained through mergers and acquisitions.

Although BP will be obligated to pay for the investigation, the agency directed that the independent panel include an external chairperson, outside safety experts, and representatives of the union. The USW said it plans to appoint several safety experts to the investigative body.

"We applaud the CSB for taking this historic step," said Gerard. "By virtue of this directive, it has established an investigative standard that will make the entire industry safer for workers.

"Our union," he added, "will appoint safety experts to the independent investigative team who will make absolutely sure that BP honors the spirit, as well as the letter, of the CSB's directive."