OSHA labels DuPont a severe violator after four killed in La Porte, Texas plant

The nation's top workplace health agency announced Thursday that it has placed chemical giant DuPont on its 'severe violator list' for problems uncovered in inspections conducted after four workers were killed in a massive gas release at its La Porte plant Nov. 15.

The Occupational Health and Safety Administration had already proposed in May to fine DuPont $99,000 for violations related to the fatalities and failures that led to a leak of 23,000 pounds of the toxic methyl mercaptan from a towering pesticide unit on one corner of plant property. On Thursday, the agency proposed adding another $273,000 penalties for additional violations found in another inspection in January that delved into other operations that contain huge stores of hazardous toxics inside the same chemical complex.

"DuPont promotes itself as having a 'world-class safety' culture and even markets its safety expertise to other employers, but these four preventable workplace deaths and the very serious hazards we uncovered at this facility are evidence of a failed safety program," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels in a press release.

The latest investigation is part of a national probe of DuPont facilities that OSHA is now conducting in the aftermath of the November accident - the deadliest at any U.S. chemical plant in more than a decade. On Nov. 15, massive amounts of a toxic called methyl mercaptan leaked into a building, killing operator Crystle Wise and supervisor Wade Baker as well as brothers Gilbert Manuel "Gibby" and Robert Tisnado, who perished in attempts to rescue the others.

Read more: http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/houston-texas/article/OSHA-labels-DuPont-a-severe-violator-after-four-6375592.php

Earlier threads:
DuPont Chemical Plant in La Porte Where Four Workers Died Reported Recent Violations November 2014
DuPont Says Plant Leaked 23,000 Pounds of Toxic Gas December 2014
Federal Investigators Say Design Flaws Caused the DuPont Accident in La Porte (23,000 lbs. leak) February 2015