New from CSB: Engage Workers to Prevent Chemical Incidents

Worker engagement is key to an effective process safety program.  After all, it’s employees who are so often in direct contact with the hazards — and have the experience and knowledge to help prevent them.

– CSB Board Member Rick Engler.

The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) announced the release of a new safety digest on September 4, 2019 that addresses the importance of work participation to prevent chemical incidents.

In the safety digest, CSB reviews four chemical incidents—at an explosives manufacturing site, a chemical production facility, and two oil refineries—in which insufficient worker participation contributed to the incident.  The incidents covered “led to a total of 13 employee deaths, many injuries, and, in one case, 15,000 residents living near the facility seeking medical evaluation.”  

View the new CSB safety digest here.

In the digest, CSB cites a global survey conducted by DuPont Sustainable Solutions, which found that while 88% of respondents felt that worker engagement was important to risk management, only 35% stated that it was a strong component in their organizations.

In October 2018, CSB updated its policy regarding worker participation in CSB investigations. The updated policy is available here.
 

Tags: chemical incidents, chemical release, chemical training, worker safety