On March 23rd, a major explosion at BP’s Texas City oil refinery killed 15 workers and injured at least 70 people. According to a 2004 TexPIRG report, voluntary safety standards by BP and other chemical and refining companies over the last decade have failed to result in a decline in accidents.

Self-regulation by the industry is clearly not doing enough to protect Texas workers and families by preventing accidents. For example, the Chemical Security Board concluded that a 2001 explosion at a BP plant in Georgia that killed three workers could have been avoided if the company had “been more vigilant about safety.” According to CSB, “BP’s researchers knew the molten plastic involved was susceptible to a gas-producing reaction at high temperatures, but the dangers to the workers were not taken into account in the plant design or operating procedures.”

TexPIRG is working to pass the Chemical Security Act, legislation that requires companies to use safer chemicals and processes.