Bayer Plant Cited for Fatal Explosion
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Updated: 5:53 PM Feb 26, 2009
Bayer Plant Cited for Fatal Explosion
The U.S. Occupational and Health Administration has issued proposed fines totaling $143,000 against a West Virginia Bayer CropScience plant for an August 2008 explosion that killed two workers.
Posted: 2:37 PM Feb 26, 2009
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com
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INSTITUTE, W.Va. (AP) - The U.S. Occupational and Health Administration has issued proposed fines totaling $143,000 against a West Virginia Bayer CropScience plant for an August 2008 explosion that killed two workers.

Thursday's proposed fines stem from 15 violations the federal safety agency issued against the Institute plant, including 13 serious violations and two repeat violations involving hazardous analysis.

An explosion in the plant's Methomyl Unit killed one worker immediately. The second suffered severe burns and died several weeks after the Aug. 28 blast.

The company has 15 days to contest the violations and fines.

Click here for complete coverage of the explosion, including a timeline of events and 911 calls.

Here is a statement from Nick Crosby, site manager at Bayer CropScience's Institute site:

    “Our Institute site’s highest priority is the safety of our employees and the community. We remain saddened by the loss of two members of our site family in last summer’s tragic incident. Our own comprehensive internal investigation into the causes still is on-going. The methomyl unit will not be re-started until we are convinced we know the cause of the accident and have taken the action necessary to ensure the unit’s safe operation in the future.

    “We have cooperated fully with OSHA in its investigation and have just received the agency’s proposed citations. We will be studying them thoroughly and dealing with them appropriately.

    Our ultimate goal is to ensure we are operating our entire facility as safely as possible.”


Latest Comments

Posted by: Paul on Mar 12, 2009 at 05:05 PM

In Italy, a company CEO is charged with 7 counts of murder, and 6 senior managers with 7 counts of criminal manslaughter after a fire at a steel mill caused 7 deaths. As a consultant in the field of plant safety management communication, I see this type of situation world-wide. Operations to ALARP - As Low As Reasonably Practicable - the corporate balancing act of costs vs. lives. All well and good when things are going well, but try to explain why you did what you did to the survivors! The bar needs to be raised!
Posted by: TO CONCERND on Feb 27, 2009 at 12:56 PM

Im sure the families will be taken care of. Those kids will never have to worry about anything or paying for their education. But that will never replace the lives that were lost. I just think it is sad that the company cant step up to the plate and admit THEIR mistakes. They want to blame it on the employees, and not take blame for lack of training and not having resources their that night.
Posted by: Mark on Feb 27, 2009 at 10:50 AM

The institute plant has nothing to do with Bayer Asprin. That is made in a division of Bayer that is separate from the Crop Science division.
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