BP to Appoint Independent Panel to Review U.S. Refinery Safety
Posted: 22 August 2005
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BP is to appoint an independent panel to review the
safety management systems and corporate safety culture of BP
Products North America Inc., the subsidiary responsible for its
U.S. refining operations.
Responding to a recommendation made today by the U.S. Chemical
Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), which is
investigating the March 23 explosion at the company's Texas City
refinery, BP Group chief executive John Browne said the panel
would be headed by an external chairperson and would include
outside safety experts and BP staff representatives.
Browne said: "The Texas City explosion was the worst tragedy in
the recent history of BP, and we will do everything possible to
ensure nothing like it happens again. Today's recommendation from
the CSB is a welcome development and we take it seriously.
"We will move speedily to appoint an independent panel and offer
it every help to do its job. When it reports, we will act with
equal speed to deal with its recommendations."
Browne said the panel's findings would be made public.
Ross Pillari, president of BP Pr oducts North America Inc., said
he had discussed the recommendation with the CSB on Monday and
pledged that "the membership and mission of the independent panel
will be consistent with the recommendation of the CSB.
"We have made use of a number of outside experts in our
investigation of the March 23 explosion. This additional step,
which will take in all five of BP's U.S refineries, is entirely
consistent with how we have proceeded to date," Pillari said. "We
see value in this approach, and we look forward to working with
the CSB and the panel towards our common goal of making our
refineries as safe as they can be."
Posted by Editor Pipeline Magazine
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