CSB Updates Recommendation Response Spreadsheet – 7-25-25

Yesterday the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) updated their Recommendations Statistics page to include a link to the latest version of their spreadsheet, All_rec_status_updates_7-25-2025.xlsx . This spreadsheet tracks all 1019 recommendations made by the CSB in their closed accident investigations and is current through the publication of the TS USA Molten Salt Eruption investigation. The previous version (that old link still works) of this spreadsheet on the CSB website was dated March 14^th, 2025.

 

Review - CSB Updated Status of 15 Investigation Recommendations – 7-25-25

Yesterday the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) updated their Recent Recommendation Status Updates page, closing five recommendations with acceptable alternative actions. These actions left 128 of 1019 recommendations open. Additionally, the CSB updated the open status of ten recommendations. The CSB took these actions on July 25^th, 2025.

The five recommendations recently closed recommendations are:

• Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R1 - Marathon Martinez Renewables,

• Kuraray Pasadena Release and Fire - 2018-03-I-TX-R5 - Kuraray America, Inc,

• Kuraray Pasadena Release and Fire - 2018-03-I-TX-R12 - Kuraray America, Inc,

• Intercontinental Terminals Company (ITC) Tank Fire - 2019-01-I-TX-R1 - Intercontinental Terminals Company, and

• Husky Energy Superior Refinery Explosion and Fire - 2018-02-I-WI-R16 - Honeywell UOP,

The ten open recommendations that were updated are:

• Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R2 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,

• Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R3 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,

• Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R4 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,

• Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R5 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,

• Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R6 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,

• Marathon Martinez Renewable Fuels Fire - 2024-01-I-CA-R7 – Marathon Martinez Renewables,

• Honeywell Geismar Chlorine and Hydrogen Fluoride Releases - 2023-02-I-LA-R1 - Honeywell International Inc,

• Honeywell Geismar Chlorine and Hydrogen Fluoride Releases - 2023-02-I-LA-R2 - Honeywell International Inc,

• Honeywell Geismar Chlorine and Hydrogen Fluoride Releases - 2023-02-I-LA-R3 - Honeywell International Inc, and

• Aghorn Operating Inc. Waterflood Station Hydrogen Sulfide Release - 2020-01-I-TX-R3 - Aghorn Operating Inc.

For more details about the actions taken that resulted in these update actions, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/csb-updated-status-of-15-investigation - subscription required.

CSB Updates Recommendation Response Spreadsheet – 4-15-25

Yesterday the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) updated their Recommendations Statistics page to include a link to the latest version of their spreadsheet, all_rec_status_update_4-15-2025.xlsx. This spreadsheet tracks all 1008 recommendations made by the CSB in their closed accident investigations and is current through the publication of the Marathon Martinez investigation. The previous version (that old link still works) of this spreadsheet on the CSB website was dated December 19^th, 2024.

Review - CSB Updates Status of 5 Recommendations – 6-19-24

In addition to adding seven new recommendations yesterday, last week the Chemical Safety Board updated the status of five recommendations, closing all five recommendations. The closed recommendations were:

2021-01-I-TN-R3 - Wacker Polysilicon,

2021-01-I-TN-R4 - Wacker Polysilicon,

2021-01-I-TN-R5 - Wacker Polysilicon,

2021-05-I-TX-R3 - Turn2 Specialty Companies, and

2011-06-I-HI-R8 - National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

According to the CSB’s Recommendation Status Updates page the Board has issued 997 recommendations over the years with 843 of those recommendations having been closed as of June 19^th. This leaves 154 recommendations currently open.

For more information on the closed recommendations, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/csb-updates-status-of-5-recommendations - subscription required.

Review - CSB Updates 6 Recommendations – 5-21-24

Yesterday, the Chemical Safety Board updated their Recent Recommendation Status Updates page to reflect changes that the Board made to the status of various accident investigation recommendations made on May 21^st, 2024. The changes include closing four recommendations.

2019-04-I-PA-R1 Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) Refinery Fire and Explosions - EPA,

2017-04-I-MO-R2 Loy Lange Box Company Pressure Vessel Explosion – Loy-Lange Box Co,

 2017-04-I-MO-R3 Loy-Lange Box Company Pressure Vessel Explosion – Loy-Lange Box Co,

2018-02-I-WI-R12 Husky Energy Superior Refinery Explosion and Fire – EPA,

2020-04-I-TX-R1 Wendland 1H Well Fatal Explosion – Chesapeake Operating LLC, and

2011-H-1-R3 Public Safety at Oil and Gas Storage Facilities – OK Corporation Commission.

Comentary

The Board’s action to close 2011-H-1-R3 as Unacceptable Action/No Response Received reflects the legal limitations under which the Board operates. The Board has no regulatory authority and has limited influence to see their recommendations implemented. To be fair, that influence is most effective with facilities who have to convince insurance companies that they are operating in a safe manner; an open CSB recommendation (or even worse, a rejected recommendation) is not going to make that an easy story to sell.

 

For more information on the Board’s actions, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/csb-updates-6-recommendations-5-21 - subscription required.

Review - CSB Updates Status of 7 Recommendations – 2-2-25

Yesterday, the Chemical Safety Board updated their web site to reflect changes to the status of seven accident investigation recommendations. Six of the recommendations were closed and one was changed to Open - Acceptable Response or Alternate Response. Changes were approved by the Board on February 2^nd, 2024.

The closed recommendations included:

• Kuraray Pasadena Release and Fire – 2018-03-I-TX-R10,

• Kuraray Pasadena Release and Fire – 2018-03-I-TX-R8,

• Kuraray Pasadena Release and Fire – 2018-03-I-TX-R7,

• Evergreen Packaging Paper Mill Fire During Hot Work – 2020-07-I-NC-R1,

• Xcel Energy Company Hydroelectric Tunnel Fire - 2008-01-I-CO-R2,

• TPC Port Neches Explosions and Fire - 2020-02-I-TX-R1

 

For more details about these updates, including the interim update, see my article at CFSN Detailed Analysis - https://patrickcoyle.substack.com/p/csb-updates-status-of-7-recommendations - subscription required.