Texas oil refinery receives record-breaking OSHA fine

A mind-boggling $87,430,000. That's the amount the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is proposing in penalties to BP Products North America, Inc. The reason? Failure to correct potential hazards to its employees.

BP's Texas City, Texas, refinery experienced a massive, fatal explosion in March 2005 that killed 15 workers and injured 170. In September of that year, BP entered into a
settlement agreement, committing to corrective actions that would eliminate the types of hazards responsible for the 2005 incident. Yet, after a recent six-month inspection,
OSHA is not satisfied with BP's efforts and has now issued this record-breaking $87 million fine.

"When BP signed the OSHA settlement from the March 2005 explosion, it agreed to
take comprehensive action to protect employees. Instead of living up to that
commitment, BP has allowed hundreds of potential hazards to continue
unabated," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis.

Solis also shared this stern message regarding BP's safety oversights:

"Fifteen people lost their lives as a result of the 2005 tragedy, and 170 others
were injured. An $87 million fine won't restore those lives, but we can't let
this happen again. Workplace safety is more than a slogan. It's the law. The
U.S. Department of Labor will not tolerate the preventable exposure of workers
to hazardous conditions."

Texas oil refinery receives record-breaking OSHA fine