State issues record fine in deadly Tesoro refinery blast

[Newsjock]

Source: Seattle Times

The Washington Department of Labor and Industries on Monday fined Tesoro Corp. a record $2.38 million for a deadly explosion in April at the oil refinery in Anacortes.

... The state said Tesoro failed to check for cracks in the 40-year-old equipment involved in an explosion that killed the seven workers. The agency also said Tesoro disregarded workplace safety rules, postponed maintainance and failed to adequately protect its workers.

The agency cited the company for 44 violations of state workplace safety and health regulations.

"Tesoro did not inspect the aging equipment in accordance with its own policies and good engineering practices," said Michael Silverstein, assistant director of the state Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) Division of Occupational Safety and Health. "There were cracks in the metal that could have been discovered by proper testing that was not done in 10 years."

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013070502_tesoro05m.html

[texastoast]

1. And they want further deregulation

:eyes:

[gratuitous]

2. "Proper testing that was not done in 10 years"

Aw geez, they've been busy! I sure hope Tesoro can weasel its way out of most of this fine. Flowers for their dead employees aren't cheap, and it makes the widows feel so much better.