CSB发行有关盟军终端灾难性肥料罐倒塌的最终报告

在2009年5月27日发布的报告中，对2008年11月的2008年11月的化肥坦克倒塌了美国弗吉尼亚州切萨皮克的终端，美国化学安全委员会（CSB）建议弗吉尼亚州的英联邦规范或授权地方司法管辖区，以规范设计，规范设计，位于伊丽莎白河上的大型肥料储罐的建筑，维护和检查。2008年11月12日，一场地上储罐灾难性失败，释放了200万加仑液体尿素硝酸铵（UAN）肥料，并严重伤害了两名工人。该版本超过了附近居民区的堤防堤防和洪水淹没的部分，需要修复土壤。无法解释至少20万加仑的溢出肥料，有些人到达附近的伊丽莎白河，该河流流入切萨皮克湾。CSB董事会成员威廉·沃克（William Wark）说：“建议对位于伊丽莎白河上的类似储罐进行调节，我们希望不仅保护社区和工人，而且保护切萨皮克分水岭的活力。”CSB的调查人员发现，涉及事故的坦克（称为Tank 201）进行了焊接工作。承包商将垂直的铆接接缝取出，并用焊接板代替，以加强关节。该设施的其他三个坦克也进行了类似的工作。调查主管罗伯特·霍尔（Robert Hall）说：“ CSB的调查发现，在坦克上执行的焊接不符合推荐的行业实践。” "Additionally the company did not ensure that post-welding inspections were conducted prior to refilling the tank to its maximum capacity." The report noted that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regulates the safety of petroleum storage tanks, but liquid fertilizer and other non-petroleum tanks are regulated by individual states. Virginia is one of 33 states that do not currently have regulations for liquid fertilizer tanks, the CSB said. In addition to calling for state action to regulate storage tanks, the Board urged the EPA to revise and reissue a safety bulletin on liquid fertilizer tank hazards and asked The Fertilizer Institute (TFI), a trade association, to urge member companies to require appropriate inspections of tanks used to store liquid fertilizer at terminal facilities. In December 2008, the board issued an urgent recommendation calling on Allied Terminals to take immediate action to reduce the risk of a catastrophic failure of three tanks located at its facility - one about 250 feet from the South Hill Neighborhood. The CSB also recommended that Allied Terminals select an independent engineering firm to evaluate the specified tanks and within 30 days provide a report prepared by the independent tank engineering firm to the City of Chesapeake. The independent report resulted in Allied Terminals significantly reducing the maximum liquid levels of the remaining tanks. The CSB investigation identified sixteen other tank failures at nine facilities in other states between 1995 and 2008. These sixteen failures resulted in one death, four hospitalizations, one community evacuation, and two releases into waterways. The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems. The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. Visit our website, www.csb.gov For more information, contact Public Affairs Specialist Hillary Cohen at (202) 261-3601, 202-446-8094 cell.