Unions recommend Obama Administration fill vacant and soon-to-be vacant Board seats

Several International Unions representing hundreds of thousands of chemical workers again criticize the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB), today for their report on the October 11, 2008, oleum release at INDSPEC Chemical Corporation in Petrolia, PA.  The unions reacted to the CSB’s new report on a release of oleum, an acid used in various industries, from a manufacturing facility represented by USW Local Union 6346-25.  The Local Union was excluded from the beginning in all aspects of the investigation by the company proclaiming the investigation to be privileged. 

“The CSB report process is broken,” said Mike Wright, USW Health Safety and Environment Director. “This report lacks the quality of analysis of past reports. A major release of oleum, a widely used and highly hazardous material that endangers both workers and the public, should trigger a comprehensive investigation and formal recommendations, rather than just lessons learned. CSB recommendations are key to long term and sound improvement of workplace and community health and safety ... more