Oil giant BP faces more safety issues
TEXT OF STORY
Bill Radke: British Petroleum is expected to be hit today with the biggest fine in the history of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Marketplace’s Stephen Beard has the story from London.
Stephen Beard: The $87 million fine stems from the explosion at BP’s Texas-city oil refinery in 2005. Fifteen workers died in that disaster. Officials from OSHA — quoted in the New York Times — say BP has failed to correct many safety problems at the facility. They claim that four years after the blast, the company still hasn’t complied with hundreds of safety notices.
James Batty is with Petroleum Intelligence News.
JAMES BATTY: It’s quite a surprise in a way. And it will be a big blow for the company. Ever since the explosion took place they’ve been constantly stressing safety, their emphasis on safety and improving their safety practices.
BP says it’s disappointed by OSHA’s actions. It has appealed to an independent review commission. The Texas explosion has proved the company’s costliest accident. It’s already paid more than $70 million in penalties and fines and has set aside more than $2 billion to meet legal claims.
In London this is Stephen Beard for Marketplace.
Stories You Might Like
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
