Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/472/2027
From The Socialist newspaper, 1 February 2007
BP condemned over safety standards
A RECENT US report slammed Britain's biggest oil company BP for flouting safety standards in this very dangerous industry. In 2005 chemicals caught fire in BP's Texas City oil refinery. This was the US's worst industrial incident for a decade, killing 15 workers and injured over 170.
Roger Shrives
The site's director admitted that the refinery was held together by 'Band Aid' and 'superglue' for years before the fatal fire. The fire brigade said there was an average of one blaze a week.
In 2004, a worker was boiled alive there in the 23rd fatal accident in 30 years. Leaky pipes were patched up using temporary clamps and valves. Alarms and instruments were not working properly.
Management focused on keeping production going and the profits rolling in. BP bosses had ordered a 25% saving on costs.
Before that, former owners Amoco had cut maintenance spending by 84% between 1992 and 2000.
BP's funding was too low but spending was not increased until after the 2005 incident.
The US chemical safety board says there is an 'iron-clad case' for pinning some responsibility for the incident on budget cuts.
BP has now been forced to 'clean up' at a cost of £3.5 billion. But BP has been 'cleaning up' for years. Their profits totalled £11 billion last year, rising 25% from 2005 to 2006.
The report said BP's management in London failed to inculcate a culture of "process safety" when highly flammable liquids were being mixed and heated.
The oil giant has got off lightly. Socialists say the whole oil industry - production, treatment, transportation etc - should be run under public ownership with democratic workers' control.
Safety must no longer play second fiddle to huge profits.
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In The Socialist 1 February 2007:
Private hands off our health service
NHS: Protests must reflect people's anger
NHS union attacked in Brighton
Workplace news
Striking for jobs and services
Socialist Students
Socialist Party news and analysis
Gay adoption: Christian hierarchy attacks equal rights
Northern Ireland
War and terrorism
Iraq - build for 24 February demo
International socialist news and analysis
CWI rally: An inspiring international meeting
CWI World Congress: Building the forces of socialism worldwide
Sri Lanka: Defend socialists under attack
Bolivia: Mass protests demand right-wing Prefect's resignation
Workplace news
Power industry: Fight this victimisation
BP condemned over safety standards
Support the Unique Care workers
Southampton care workers on strike
National meeting on Single Status
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