Podcasts about chemical safety board

Ralph talks to journalist and M.Div. Chris Hedges about Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on artificial intelligence. Then, Ralph speaks with Rick Engler (former member of the US Chemical Safety and Hazards Investigation Board) about Trump's proposed closing of that agency. Finally, Ralph pays tribute to some recently departed friends.Chris Hedges is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, who spent nearly two decades as a foreign correspondent in Central America, the Middle East, Africa and the Balkans. He is the host of The Chris Hedges Report, and he is a prolific author— his latest book is A Genocide Foretold: Reporting on Survival and Resistance in Occupied Palestine.I think that Pope Leo kind of missed the point of AI. In that he describes that it could be a positive force for Catholic education (these are his words), compassionate health care, creative platforms that tell the Christian story with truth and beauty. I think those were all indications to me that he didn't quite understand what AI is about. It's not about education, it's not about compassion, it's not about truth, and it's not about beauty. It is a very pernicious force that will go beyond, of course, replacing all sorts of labor, but creating a world where fact and fiction are blurred together.Chris HedgesI think that mass organization is kind of all we have left as we barrel towards an authoritarian state. Congress doesn't function, certainly doesn't function as Congress was designed to function. They have surrendered their traditional constitutional authority, including, of course, the call for Congress to declare war. And this kind of unitary executive branch—this was put into place, by the way, before Trump. He's just taken advantage of it…And I think that it's absolutely fundamental that we recapture that kind of militancy, that kind of organized workforce that has traditionally throughout our history been such an important corrective to democracy—along with, of course, journalism.Chris HedgesRick Engler is a former U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board member and labor advocate who founded the New Jersey Work Environment Council. He has advocated for successful landmark state and national public policies that ensure workers and the public's “right to know” about potential chemical dangers, and that promote safer processes, chemical incident prevention, and whistleblower protection.The CSB is unique. I mean, nobody would think of abolishing the National Transportation Safety Board. And no one should think about abolishing the Chemical Safety Board, which does the same thing. It's not about issuing, in this case, fines or violations. It's about trying to understand the underlying causes of what led to these incidents.Rick Engler[Trump's allies] have a certain religious fervor about this. When I talk to plant managers, the plant managers of the corporations are much more careful and nuanced in most cases. They don't want their own plants to explode. But somewhere at the higher corporate levels, I think they're just willing to take the risks that the tradeoff for them is: Trump is supporting them in so many ways, why interfere? Why become part of some nuanced opposition to the most extreme EPA attacks? But I do think the elimination of the CSB is driven by the Trump administration in a way that wouldn't be happening if it was just left to the chemical industry trade associations alone. I'm not sure that's an adequate answer. I'm actually kind of puzzled by it. Because it's also really clear that if there was any one major incident, it would cost so much money—not only in the human tragedy of the lives lost and neighbors harmed and evacuations and shelter-in-place and property damage, but these incidents destroy facilities.Rick EnglerNews 6/12/26* Our top stories this week come to us from California, where, after an excruciatingly protracted wait, authorities have finally called some of the most high-profile races. In Los Angeles, Democratic Socialist City Councilwoman Nithya Raman has secured the second slot in the mayoral race, beating out reactionary former reality television star Spencer Pratt, PBS reports. Pratt garnered significant attention from conservative media for his slick AI-generated ads and his false claims about living in an airstream trailer after his LA home burned down in the recent fires. In actuality, he was living in the posh Bel Air hotel, billed as a campaign expense, per TMZ. Now the question becomes whether or not Raman will be able to expand her coalition to unseat incumbent Mayor Karen Bass in November.* If Raman's victory is the good news however, the bad news is that Trump-endorsed Republican Steve Hilton will advance in the gubernatorial race. He will face off against former California Attorney General and Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, who has accepted large campaign contributions from the California Association of Realtors, the California Medical Association and even Chevron, per CalMatters. This outcome means progressive billionaire Tom Steyer will not advance. Many are placing the blame for this on former Congresswoman Katie Porter, who remained in the race despite clearly failing to achieve any real viability throughout the race. This has drawn comparisons to Elizabeth Warren's perceived role as a spoiler candidate vis-a-vis Bernie Sanders in the 2020 Democratic Primary, particularly since Porter is a highly visible protégé of Senator Warren. In his concession speech, Steyer closed by telling his supporters “Pay attention. Know what you deserve, and know who is on your side. Understand who the villains are, and say their names out loud. Continue to demand more from your leaders and your government, until they give you the California – and the country – you know you deserve. I will be with you all the way.”* Elsewhere in California however, progressives scored major victories. In California's 22nd congressional district, Bernie Sanders-backed Randy Villegas secured a spot in the top two, beating out his opponent Jasmine Bains, who enjoyed the backing of AIPAC and 53 corporate donors, according to the American Prospect. He will face Republican incumbent Congressman David Valadao in November. Even more impressive is the victory of progressive challenger Mai Vang in California's 7th district primary, where she actually emerged as the top vote getter, beating out longtime incumbent Congresswoman Doris Matsui. However, because Matsui, who is 81 years old, won the second-most votes, she will still advance to the general election.* Another much-anticipated primary was held this week on the exact other end of the country. In Maine, Graham Platner trounced his opponents in the Democratic Senate race, winning over 70% of the vote despite a concerted campaign against him in the national press. In his victory speech, CNN reports Platner wrote off the smears, saying “They don't know Maine.” Furthermore, he said “If you believe, as I do, that we can change our politics, and change our country, then you must also believe that people can change…To all those who feel let down, disappointed, or disillusioned. It is my job to earn your trust, your faith, and your support. And I will spend every day of this campaign, and if I have the privilege, every day in the United States Senate, doing exactly that.” Platner will face off against five-term incumbent Senator Susan Collins in a race that will be decisive if Democrats are to have any chance of retaking the Senate in the 2026 midterms.* Turning towards the plains, two candidates are starting to show a surprising level of viability in heavily Republican, rural states. First, in Idaho, Todd Achilles is running as an independent against Republican incumbent Senator Jim Risch. Achilles served as a tank commander and armor officer in the Army before a varied career in the corporate world, education and now politics, according to Independent Voter News. The most striking development in this race is a new poll showing that while “Achilles starts out…behind by 14 points at 48-34…once voters hear biographical information about him and negative messaging about Senator Risch, he gains a full 17 points…[leading] Risch, 41% to 38%.” If accurate, this would be a stunningly close race in a state where registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats by a margin greater than 5-to-1.* In South Dakota, Brian Bengs, another veteran turned educator – turned, in this case, National Park Ranger – is running shockingly close to incumbent Republican Senator Mike Rounds in a head-to-head matchup. According to the South Dakota Standard, the latest polling shows Rounds leading Bengs 44% to 40%, with 16% undecided. Moreover, like the Achilles poll, when voters are given biographical information about Bengs and negative messaging about Senator Rounds, that margin flips to 44% in favor of Bengs, compared to just 42% for Rounds. If these polls are accurate and independent candidates – not just Achilles and Bengs but also Dan Osborn in Nebraska and Seth Bodnar in Montana – prove viable, perhaps even victorious, in states long seen as out of reach for non-Republicans, there will have to be a serious reckoning with the toxicity of the Democratic Party brand in the American heartland.* In Michigan, progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed has picked up perhaps the most critical possible endorsement in the state: that of the United Auto Workers. In a statement, the union wrote that “UAW members in Michigan want a fighter in Washington, D.C. who isn't afraid to push forward a strong working-class agenda with moral clarity…From Medicare for All to banning stock buybacks, Dr. Abdul El-Sayed is ready, eager, and well-equipped to move our core issues in the U.S. Senate.” Whether because of this endorsement or not, El-Sayed now seems to be in the driver's seat in this primary. This endorsement dovetails with UAW President Shawn Fain's rumored frustration with the mainstream labor movement for not doing more to back labor candidates, such as Clare Valdez in New York, who was a UAW organizer before entering the State Assembly.* On the House floor meanwhile, lame-duck dissident Republican Congressman Thomas Massie delivered a barn-burner of a speech this week, demanding that the government reopen the investigation into the 1967 Israeli attack on the USS Liberty, Al Jazeera reports. The attack on the Liberty, a US Navy vessel, killed 34 service members and injured 171 others. For decades, Israel has claimed that this was nothing more than an accidental incident of friendly fire, but the surviving veterans have long disputed this explanation, contending that it was a deliberate attack, either as a “false flag operation or because they simply didn't want anybody observing what they were doing that day.” Massie called on the House to “give them closure…It's long overdue. And then they can have their justice.”* Looking to Latin America, the presidential election in Peru is, predictably, coming down to a razor thin margin, WLRN reports. This race, between left-wing Senator Roberto Sánchez and Keiko Fujimori, perennial presidential candidate and daughter of former dictator Alberto Fujimori, currently stands at 50.004% for Fujimori and 49.996% for Sánchez, with 98.258% of the votes tabulated. Sánchez was favored to win after the in-country votes were counted, then Fujimori pulled ahead when the votes from Miami came in, other absentee votes eroded that margin and gave Sánchez the edge once again but Fujimori has yet again pulled ahead by a hair. This is Fujimori's fourth presidential campaign, making it to the runoff each time but ultimately losing by the narrowest of margins.* Finally, in Colombia, Progressive International reports that while Colombian President Gustavo Petro presides at the United Nations Security Council, “conservative forces in the country's legislature have conspired against the constitution to ‘SUSPEND' his presidency — just 11 days from the run-off presidential election.” While Reuters adds that the proposal must be “debated and approved by all ‌16 ⁠members of the [legislative Commission of Investigation and ​Accusation] and subsequently by the Senate before it can take effect,” it is hard to see this as anything besides an opportunistic grab for power while the proverbial cat is away. Petro's four-year term ends in August; the runoff in the presidential election, between leftist Ivan Cepeda and right-wing lawyer Abelardo ​De La Espriella, will be held on ​June 21st.This has been Francesco DeSantis, with In Case You Haven't Heard. Get full access to Ralph Nader Radio Hour at www.ralphnaderradiohour.com/subscribe

The Association of Western Pulp and Paper Workers in Vancouver, Wash. is the union that represents the nearly 400 workers who were working at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. when a chemical tank ruptured at the paper mill last month. Eleven employees died, all of whom were union members.    AWPPW has been coordinating relief efforts, including donations, to support and assess the needs of victims and their families. Last week, the union announced it had reached an agreement with Nippon Dynawave to secure full pay until at least Aug. 8 for workers who are unable to or were instructed not to work. Those who are scheduled to work will receive an additional three hours of pay for each shift they work.    A federal investigation into the cause of the rupture is currently underway and being led by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Josh Estes, a spokesperson and former local union president at AWPPW, says the union supports the demands for answers and accountability from victims and their families to ensure that a tragedy like this doesn’t happen again. Estes joins us to share the union’s focus on supporting workers and their families and the importance of this industry on the local economy.  

After the deadly chemical tank rupture that killed 11 people last Tuesday at a paper mill in Longview, questions continue to loom over the community — including what environmental impacts the chemical spill could have on the city and nearby Columbia River, as well as the potential cause of this disaster. It’s Washington’s deadliest workplace incident in nearly a century.   Officials from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board arrived in Longview last Wednesday to investigate the cause of the chemical disaster. The future of the board has been uncertain in recent months after a proposed budget from President Trump would have defunded the federal agency, and a recent house bill restored the board's funding by $8.2 million. But yesterday afternoon, the House Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment brought by U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez to add over $5 million to preserve the full funding for the CSB.   We’ll hear more from Gluesenkamp Perez, whose congressional district includes Longview, for more on the investigation and its impact on the Longview community.  

with Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen

Eleven people died after a chemical tank holding hundreds of thousands of corrosive chemicals ruptured last Tuesday at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. in Longview. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is leading the investigation as questions mount over workplace safety and the caustic stew of chemicals and equipment maintenance within the paper mill.    Washington state’s deadliest workplace incident in nearly a century has raised concerns about Oregon’s level of readiness and resources to respond to hazardous materials incidents.    That experience dates back to 1989, when Oregon became the first state in the nation to establish a state-level hazmat program. Today, there are 12 regional hazardous material emergency response teams, from Astoria to Ontario, who can quickly deploy to support local first responders in emergencies, as well as offer training to local agencies and industries. The  Community Right to Know program allows members of the public to see where hazardous substances are being stored in their communities, unless that information is determined to be sensitive or confidential.     Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple joins us to share her thoughts on the Longview disaster and Oregon’s efforts to mitigate the risks hazardous materials pose.  

In this distinctive episode of The Safety Guru, renowned safety expert Dr Andrew Hopkins joins us to explore the critical lessons from the Boeing 737 MAX. Drawing from his latest book, Andrew unpacks a comprehensive analysis of its troubled history, uncovering flawed system design, organizational blind spots, and safety decisions that led to devastating consequences. He shares key learnings for boards and executives, emphasizing safety as a core responsibility and underscoring the importance of understanding and managing risk at the highest levels, while addressing how long-term safety performance is essential to sustainable business success. This information-rich episode delivers valuable takeaways on strengthening the role of safety governance, enhancing risk oversight, improving leadership accountability, and building safer systems for the future. Listen now! About the Guest: Andrew Hopkins is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the Australian National University, Canberra. He was a consultant to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board in its investigations of the 2005 BP Texas City Refinery disaster and the 2010 BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and served as an expert witness at the Royal Commission into the 1998 Exxon gas plant explosion near Melbourne. He has written books on these and other disasters, including in mining, and has consulted for major companies in the mining, petroleum, chemical, electrical, and defence industries. He speaks regularly to audiences around the world about the human and organisational causes of major accidents. For more information: https://sociology.cass.anu.edu.au/people/professor-andrew-hopkins Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Magi and Jackson discuss several incidents documented in the Chemical Safety Board's third volume of the Accidental Release Reporting Rule, or AR3 as we like to call it. This episode is focused on the importance of process safety training, hazard analysis, and proper procedures during startup and shutdown. Stay tuned through the end of the episode for an important message about the CSB!For more about the CSB's ARRR, or AR3 as we like to call it, read volume one here, volume two here, and volume three here, and be sure to check out the other episodes in our AR3 miniseries: Episode 121 - ARRR Summaries & TrendsEpisode 125 - AR3 Volume TwoEpisode 127 - CSB AR3 Breakdown - Preventing Incidents with Proper Lockout/Tagout (LOTO)Episode 130 - CSB AR3 Breakdown - Preventing Injury with Proper PPEEpisode 131 - CSB AR3 Breakdown: Human Error and Incompatible Chemicals

A power shift is underway at the EPA as former American Chemistry Council representatives are positioned to assume key roles under the Trump administration, potentially reshaping the agency's regulatory approach. Meanwhile, safety concerns remain paramount as the U.S. Chemical Safety Board continues investigating a deadly reactor explosion at a Louisville food additive plant that claimed two workers' lives. The CSB has also released new reports analyzing recent industrial accidents to prevent future incidents. In corporate news, major chemical and energy companies including BASF, Chevron, DuPont, and Shell have announced significant executive leadership changes that could influence industry direction in the coming months.

For years the U.S. Chemical Safety Board has urged companies with massive amounts of hazardous chemicals to keep backup generators to protect volatile chemicals. But there's no federal requirement for backup power at these plants, despite climate change and the growing threat of natural disasters.

Register for the upcoming LIVE webinar below Monday, August 5, 2024, at 1 pm ET / 10 am PT

Wednesday July 3, 2024 Chemical Safety Board Final Report on 2022 BP Husky Fire

The nation's power system navigated the first major heatwave of the year relatively smoothly, but experts warn that there are still outage risks this summer. POLITICO's Catherine Morehouse breaks down how the grid held up recently and if it can repeat that success as summer rolls on. Plus, the Chemical Safety Board released new recommendations in response to an incident at an Ohio refinery in 2022 that killed two people.   For more news on energy and the environment, subscribe to Power Switch, our free evening newsletter: https://www.politico.com/power-switch And for even deeper coverage and analysis, read our Morning Energy newsletter by subscribing to POLITICO Pro: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/newsletter-archive/morning-energy   Catherine Morehouse is an energy reporter for POLITICO.  Josh Siegel is an energy reporter for POLITICO.  Nirmal Mulaikal is a POLITICO audio host-producer.  Annie Rees is the managing producer for audio at POLITICO. Gloria Gonzalez is the deputy energy editor for POLITICO.  Matt Daily is the energy editor for POLITICO.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board identified five issues with the 2019 Philadelphia Energy Solutions Refinery fire and explosion: mechanical integrity, outdated equipment, lack of remote emergency isolation valves, safeguard reliability and the need for inherently safer design. https://www.chemicalprocessing.com/podcast/process-safety-with-trish-and-traci

In this episode, Trish & Traci interview Stephen J. Wallace, a former investigator with the U.S. Chemical Safety Board and author of the book "Hazardous Lies." Wallace offers insights into the world of process safety investigations and the motivation behind his fictional thriller. Wallace draws from his real-life experiences to craft a realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by investigators, including companies' attempts to hide the truth, ethical dilemmas and the courage required to uncover the root causes of accidents.

The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board has a short but somewhat turbulent history. One chairman was forced out for mismanagement. Another resigned early because the White House proposed getting rid of the board altogether. More recently, things have stabilized. In the latest Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey scores, engagement at the Chemical Safety Board rose by 29%. Federal Drive Host Tom Temin got an update from the new chairman, Steve Owens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoicesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board has a short but somewhat turbulent history. One chairman was forced out for mismanagement. Another resigned early because the White House proposed getting rid of the board altogether. More recently, things have stabilized. In the latest Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey scores, engagement at the Chemical Safety Board rose by 29%. Federal Drive Host Tom Temin got an update from the new chairman, Steve Owens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday's show: An investigation from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board says the fire that burned for three days at the ITC chemical storage facility in Deer Park in 2019 could have been prevented if proper measures were in place and if "gaps in relevant regulations" did not exist. Also this hour: When the pandemic began three years ago, more than a third of child care centers in Texas closed temporarily. Within two years, the equivalent of a third of those had closed permanently. For the rest, how have they fared since and how is that affecting families in need of affordable child care? Then, Meg Tapp of The Garden Club of Houston answers your questions. And we reflect on the first half of the Astros' season and look forward to the second half with Jeff Balke.

In this weekend episode, three segments from this week's C-SPAN's Washington Journal program. First – Nataliya Bugayova of the Institute for the Study of War discusses the one-year mark of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Then, Former CBO director Keith Hall, now a distinguished visiting fellow George Mason University Mercatus Center, gives us a "101" on the federal budget. Plus, Jerry Poje - an expert in environmental health and former member of the Chemical Safety Board -- discusses the toxic train derailment in northeastern Ohio. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben is joined by producer Quincy Walters in this Snacktime episode about little-known government agency with a cult YouTube following and the music mish-mash account that brought Ben back to Instagram after a 3-year hiatus. ****** Credits: This episode was produced by Quincy Walters. Mixing and sound design by Paul Vaitkus. Ben Brock Johnson and Quincy Walters are the co-hosts.

Texas Tech 2010 chemistry lab explosionMake sure to follow the podcast on instagram and twitter @eng_misjudgment for pictures for each episode.Sources:Health, Safety and Environment at U of A. (2012, January 20). Texas Tech Lab Explosion . Youtube. Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjDdl_d8br8 Kemsley, J. N. (2010, August 23). Texas Tech Lessons. C&EN. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://cen.acs.org/articles/88/i34/Texas-Tech-Lessons.html NASA. (2012, July). Don't mess with excess . Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://sma.nasa.gov/docs/default-source/safety-messages/safetymessage-2012-07-09-texastechlaboratoryexplosion.pdf?sfvrsn=e9ae1ef8_6 Reason Explains Swiss Cheese Model . YouTube. (2018, October 22). Retrieved March 10, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KND5py-z8yI State of Texas and Texas Tech University. (n.d.). Texas Tech University. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://www.ttu.edu/about/ U.S. Chemical Safety Board. (n.d.). Texas Tech University Chemistry Lab Explosion. CSB. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://www.csb.gov/texas-tech-university-chemistry-lab-explosion/ U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (n.d.). About. Alert: Awareness and localization of explosive-related threats. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://alert.northeastern.edu/about/ 

Learn more about the U.S. Chemical Safety Board on this first episode of Alphabet Soup.Sources:Campbell, A. F. (2020, July 28). A small federal agency focused on preventing industrial disasters is on life support. trump wants it gone. Vox. Retrieved October 29, 2021, from https://www.vox.com/2020/7/28/21336481/chemical-safety-hazard-investigation-board?fbclid=IwAR0D1MR1zhgHp67GmAg4VMxLm1utkoqpEHcEiI3tM2V1LA-cDpiOJzKOIds. U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. (n.d.). CSB. Retrieved October 29, 2021, from https://www.csb.gov/.United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2020, October 8). The Clean Air Act - Highlights of the 1990 Amendments. EPA. Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/clean-air-act-highlights-1990-amendments.

Leslie is joined by Steve Sallman, Director of the United Steelworkers (USW) Health, Safety and Environment Department. Ahead of next week's Worker's Memorial Day, Leslie and Steve discuss and honor workers lost to COVID-19, and other occupational hazards. Workers' Memorial Day is marked every year on April 28th to honor and remember the workers killed, injured, disabled and made ill from exposures to hazards at work. Due to the ongoing pandemic, this year's Workers Memorial Day is like no other experienced in the United States, Canada and globally. There are unknown numbers of workers who have died from COVID-19. Some were essential workers, and many have contracted it at work during these unprecedented times. We mourn and fight for them, and the loss of all victims of this cruel disease. We may never know the real statistics as it relates to occupational exposure, but the public statistics as of today are bleak: •           142,237,637 Global Confirmed cases •           3,033,084 Global Deaths  •           31,739,932 U.S. Confirmed cases •           567,736 U.S. Deaths During the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of workers have and continue to risk their lives and thousands have died. The Guardian recently reported that more than 3,600 American health care workers have died of COVID-19 in the line of work since mid-March of last year.     - Most who died were under the age of 60 (despite the median age of death from Covid-19 in the general population being 78)     - The majority of health care workers who died from COVID-19 were people of color     - A large number of those who died were worried about not having enough personal protective equipment (PPE) Workers in other essential industries have also suffered disproportionately from COVID-19, facing a 20% greater chance of dying during the pandemic than before it.Last summer, food processing facilities became COVID hotspots as workers performed job duties in close proximity for prolonged amounts of time. On top of this, there seemed to be a callous disregard for the danger workers put themselves in each day including an independent investigation finding that managers at a Tyson plant were placing bets on how many workers would get infected.  We know this public crisis is also an occupational crisis. Since the beginning of this pandemic, the USW and other unions have strived to make workplaces and workers safer. Ever since the pandemic started, unions pushed OSHA to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard that would require employers to provide infectious disease preparedness and response plans for employees. The USW also worked with employers across their industries making a series of common sense recommendations and some employers have been taking steps to keep workers safe with the assistance of the USW with Recommended Controls to Reduce Worker Exposures to COVID-19 and fought to make sure workers have access to PPE. The Biden administration is doing important work keeping workers safe and crucially, OSHA is no longer missing in action. OSHA has a new targeted program, but they will also prioritize opening inspections to complaints from high hazard worksites including health care, meat and more. President Biden's American Rescue Plan included much needed funding for expanded testing, contact tracing and research as well as for PPE. It provided for vaccine supplies and distribution. All of this helps keep workers and their families safer. COVID-19 has certainly dominated the discussion and we must remember, we still have many other hazards that are killing, injuring and making workers ill. This year OSHA, which was established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, turns 50, first opening its doors on April 28, 1971. During its initial decade, OSHA issued the first standards for asbestos, lead, carcinogens, and cotton dust. The OSHA Training Institute, safety and health training grants, the On-Site Consultation Program, State Plans, and whistleblower protections for workplace safety are also established. As we reflect on 50 years of history, there remains much to do, including a critical need to undo what the Trump administration did to the Chemical Safety Board, which plays a critical role in worker safety.  “Former President Trump spent four years undermining the Chemical Safety Board and left office with only one member remaining on this five-person board,” U.S. Sen. Tom Carper (D., Del.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, which oversees the CSB, said in a statement. “Without a quorum, the board is currently hampered in its ability to effectively do its job.” Carper, an ally of President Joe Biden's, said he looks forward to working with the administration to fill the CSB vacancies soon “so that the board can get back to its mission of keeping communities and workers safe.” But the wheels of Congress move slowly, and even if the administration nominates board members quickly, it typically takes many months to vet and approve appointments. Workers' Memorial Day the USW is a time not only to honor not only those who lost their lives either because of a workplace incident or COVID exposure, but also to recommit ourselves to renew the promise of safe jobs for all workers. The website for the United Steelworkers is USW.org and their handle on both Twitter and Instagram is @steelworkers.

Not even many feds may be aware of the small, independent U.S. Chemical Safety Board. It has a critical mission, investigating industrial chemical accidents. The board has had a somewhat rocky time over the past few years. Critics say it's understaffed. But recently it got a crucial rule out the door. For an update, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin spoke to the board's interim executive, Dr. Kristen Kulinowski.

In this episode, Wesley and Rob cover a few major events that happened in industry in 2019, and update you on the latest ruling regarding RMP regulation changes. To learn more about these major events and others currently under investigation, visit the U.S. Chemical Safety Board's website at csb.gov. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/amplify-your-process-safety/message

In this podcast episode we discuss the recent US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) call to action on combustible dust with Cheryl Mackenzie and Dr. Ivan Pupulidy.

In this episode we review the US Chemical Safety Board report on the Imperial Sugar Refinery Explosion in Wentworth, Georgia on February 7, 2008. The explosion and following fire resulted in 14 fatalities and 38 injuries.

Jane Mayer, Author, "Dark Money: The Hidden History Behind the Rise of the Radical Right" Vanessa Sutherland, Chairperson, US Chemical Safety Board In her book “Dark Money: the Hidden History Behind the Rise of the Radical Right,” New Yorker writer Jane Mayer exposes the powerful group of individuals who bankroll our political system. Mayer traces the billions of dollars spent by the Kochs, the Mercers, and other wealthy conservative activists to influence policies related to climate change, the economy and more. And as the Trump administration rolls back regulations, the head of the US Chemical Safety Board, Vanessa Sutherland, wonders how much these billionaires will succeed in weakening government oversight of their business. Portions of this program were recorded at The Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, CA.

with Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen

with Brad Friedman & Desi Doyen

Has Texas done enough to prevent another tragedy like the West Fertilizer Company explosion? According to a Chemical Safety Board report released last month, we haven't. This month, we talked to Chemical Safety Board investigators Johnnie Banks and Lucy Tyler, Texas State Fire Marshal Chris Connealy, and Texas Watch Deputy Director Ware Wendell about what this report means for the safety of Texans. Tell your lawmaker to pass meaningful chemical safety reforms here. 

Chemical Safety Board investigator Robert Hall answers questions about the North Carolina blaze.