‘Listening sessions’ on chemical facility safety underway

Washington – A series of meetings have been scheduled to provide federal agencies with input from stakeholders on improving chemical facility safety and security.

The listening sessions will take place throughout the country. The first took place Nov. 5 in Texas City, TX – the location of a BP refinery explosion in 2005 that killed 15 workers.

Future sessions are scheduled for Washington, D.C.; Illinois; New Jersey; Florida; and California. The sessions are part of an executive order directing several federal agencies to improve chemical safety and security in light of recent tragedies.

Agencies participating in the sessions include OSHA, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration.