Search
Search

Question of the Week: What is the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board?

Posted on 4/5/2011 by James Griffin

Q. I heard in the news that the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) was sending a team to investigate a workplace fire in Tennessee. So, what is the CSB, and what does it do?
 
A. The Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is an independent agency of the Federal Government that investigates the root causes of chemical accidents at industrial facilities and makes safety recommendations to prevent future accidents. 
 
Congress created the CSB as part of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, though the Board did not begin operations until 1998. Inspired by the model of the National Transportation and Safety Board (NTSB), the CSB is a completely independent agency, separate from any other government department.
 
Although the Board coordinates with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), its investigations are completely separate from the rulemaking, inspection, or enforcement functions of other agencies. In this way the CSB’s investigations can identify hazards and causes not already regulated by OSHA or the EPA; and the Board’s safety recommendations can address shortcomings in the safety regulations promulgated by OSHA and EPA.
 
When the CSB completes an investigation they may issue safety recommendations to industry, labor organizations, and other government agencies describing practices that could prevent future accidents.
 
In addition to its investigations and safety recommendations the CSB raises awareness of chemical safety hazards by creating videos that dramatize high profile accidents and explain the hazards of chemical industrial facilities.
 
References: http://www.csb.gov

Tags: Act, Air, Clean, EPA

Find a Post

Recent Posts

Compliance Topics

Compliance Archives

Lion - Quotes

This is the best RCRA training I've experienced! I will be visiting Lion training again.

Cynthia L. Logsdon

Principal Environmental Engineer

These are the best classes I attend each year. I always take something away and implement improvements at my sites.

Kim Racine

EH&S Manager

Lion is at the top of the industry in compliance training. Course content and structure are updated frequently to make annual re-training enjoyable. I like that Lion has experts that I can contact for 1 year after the training.

Caroline Froning

Plant Chemist

The instructor was energetic and made learning fun compared to dry instructors from other training providers.

Andy D’Amato

International Trade Compliance Manager

The exercises in the DOT hazardous materials management course are especially helpful in evaluating your understanding of course information.

Morgan Bliss

Principal Industrial Hygienist

The online course was well thought out and organized, with good interaction between the student and the course.

Larry Ybarra

Material Release Agent

I have been to other training companies, but Lion’s material is much better and easier to understand.

Mark Abell

Regional Manager

We have a very busy work schedule and using Lion enables us to take the course at our own time. It makes it easy for me to schedule my employees' training.

Timothy Mertes

Hazmat Shipping Professional

Very witty instructor, made the long times sitting bearable. One of the few training courses I can say I actually enjoyed.

John Hutchinson

Senior EHS Engineer

I have over 26 years of environmental compliance experience, and it has been some time since I have attended an environmental regulations workshop. I attended this course as preparation for EHS Audits for my six plants, and it was exactly what I was looking for.

Frank Sizemore

Director of Regulatory Affairs

Download Our Latest Whitepaper

The definitive 10-step guide for new hazardous materials shipping managers. Quickly reference the major considerations and details that impact hazmat shipping compliance.

Download
Latest Whitepaper

By submitting your phone number, you agree to receive recurring marketing and training text messages. Consent to receive text messages is not required for any purchases. Text STOP at any time to cancel. Message and data rates may apply. View our Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.