BP systemic failure' endangers Gulf cleanup workers

[highplainsdem]

Source: McClatchy Newspapers

BP systemic failure' endangers Gulf cleanup workers
By MARISA TAYLOR AND ERIKA BOLSTAD
McClatchy Newspapers

WASHINGTON -- Federal regulators complained in a scathing internal memo about "significant deficiencies" in BP's handling of the safety of oil spill workers and asked the Coast Guard to help pressure the company to address a litany of concerns.

The memo, written by a Labor Department official earlier this week and obtained by McClatchy, reveals the Obama administration's growing concerns about potential health and safety problems posed by the oil spill and its inability to force BP to respond to them.

-snip-

David Michaels, the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health who wrote the memo, raised the concerns on Tuesday, the day before seven oil spill workers on boats off the coast of Louisiana were hospitalized after they experienced nausea, dizziness and headaches.

-snip-

"I want to stress that these are not isolated problems," he continued. "They appear to be indicative of a general systemic failure on BP's part, to ensure the safety and health of those responding to this disaster."

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Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/05/28/1653817/bp-systemic-failure-endangers.html

[wordpix]

1. they should be wearing protective gear, plain and simple

it's difficult in the hot weather---and they can't go for a dip to cool off in the oil-plagued waters, either

[EFerrari]

2. We have to get this on the front page.

Not AGAIN, America.

:kick:

[William Z. Foster]

3. such confusion and so much misinformation is being spread

"...and asked the Coast Guard to help pressure the company to address a litany of concerns."

Were the federal government in charge, people w0uld be ordered to do what is needed, not "asked" and not "pressured."

A litany of concerns.

"...the Obama administration's growing concerns about potential health and safety problems posed by the oil spill and its inability to force BP to respond to them."

So, BP is not handling things - all of the "they have the equipment and expertise" arguments notwithstanding - and the federal government is not in charge, despite what some here keep insisting - the administration is "concerned" about the government's "inability to force BP to respond."


"I want to stress that these are not isolated problems."

"They appear to be indicative of a general systemic failure on BP's part to ensure the safety and health of those responding to this disaster."

"A general systemic failure on BP's part to ensure the safety and health of those responding to this disaster."

What else is BP mishandling?

Why do we have people here arguing on the one hand that BP can handle this and on the other that the federal government is already in charge of operations?

Neither of those are true.

[gateley]

5. "Neither of those are true."

I have to agree.

[gateley]

4. Does BP do ANYTHING the way they're supposed to? nt

[charlesg]

6. "We consider safety a No. 1 priority," BP spokesman said

Yeah, look at your safety record...

[defendandprotect]

7. k

[wordpix]

8. Letter from Rep Markey to FDA re: Corexit (toxic dispersant used)

http://globalwarming.house.gov/mediacenter/letters?id=0044#main_content

snip: To date, BP has used approximately 705,000 gallons of a trademarked dispersant called Corexit on the ocean surface and approximately 115,000 gallons of the dispersant subsurface, at the source of the spill. According to EPA , the Corexit products selected are among the most toxic and least effective dispersants approved for use. Some Corexit formulations were banned in the United Kingdom more than a decade ago because of their toxicity to some aquatic life.

I am concerned that because these toxic chemicals were not intended to be used for such long durations, and were not intended to be used at such depths, there could be serious and unknown long-term consequences for the marine ecosystem, the food chain and human health. snip

EPA recognizes the environmental tradeoffs that results from the use of these chemicals, which is why they have directed BP to identify and utilize a less toxic and more effective product and dedicated its own scientists to assist in these efforts.

Despite this directive, BP continues to insist on the use of its choice Corexit dispersant. The truth is we know little about the long-term ecological effects of the use of any dispersants, and how these dispersants may, as result of contaminating the aquatic food chain, also impact human health. snip