Comments on: The Explosion At Texas City

2005 Refinery Explosion In Texas Killed 15, Injured 170

[biggemj]

To: nottoligm43, as a worker for one of the top three oil companys in the world I am very glad Ms. Rowe is holding out. There is too much hidden and to many deaths to let this kind of negligence pass one more time with all the platitudes the big oil companies give to the survivers of these kinds of incidents. I for one know what it is to live and work in a refinery and fear when the big one is going to come. The whole industry reaks of money. money, money at the expense of workers safety and well being. Until you work in one of these places you cannot know what they are like and how the Corporationss treat them, cash cows, workiers can be replaced cheaply.

[whistleblow]

THE PROBLEM WAS/IS EVERYWHERE METALLURGICAL!!!
(SO MIS-CALLED) "SUPER"ALLOY[Ni-BASED:INCO-182/82 TRANSITION-WELDS, HASTELLOY-X,...; INCONEL-600, ... ; &/OR Fe-BASED: STAINLESS-STEELS] "SENSITIZATION" ("SUPER"ALLOY-"OSTEOPOROSIS"); THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD!!!
"NOT 'NEW' AND NOT 'NEWS'!!!
PLAGUES NUC"EL"AR-REACTORS(STP, SALEM, HOPE-CREEK, EXELON'S, SCE'S,...; ANY/ALL!!!],DoD: JET-ENGINES' & MISSILE/ROCKET-ENGINES'COMBUSTION-CHAMBERS/"BURN-CANS" CRACKING (ASK ANY PILOT!!!); NASA: SPACE-SHUTTLES' ENGINES (THE CHALLANGE!!!)

MASSIVE MULTI-DECADES (DOE; NRC, EPRI; NEI, DOD, NASA, DHS, ...) COVERUP!!!

A/MANY MASSIVE GENERIC ENDEMIC PURPOSEFUL FRAUD DAISY-CHAIN(S) SPANNING ~ SEVEN - TEN DISTINCT UPSTREAM INDUSTRIES!!! ;AND BROADLY OVER MANY MANY TOO-MANY INDUSTRIES!!!

{REFERENCE: ANA MAYO, "IF LEAKS COULD KILL", THE VILLAGE VOICE, PAGE 40, 8/21/78}.

CONTACTS:
DR. TED SEIGAL
NUC"EL"AR-METALLURGIST/CERAMIST/PHYSICIST/WHISTLEBLOWER
[e-mail]
MESSAGES c/o [phone]

[rdaspeedrace]

Maybe U.S. Chemical Saety Board Caroly merritt, Attorney Mr. Coleman, or Eva Rowe should contact myself or others at B.P.. B.P. is so affraid of the reaction of 60min's and this report that they had Colin Maclean write up a letter 10/24/06 that went to a few colleagues to remind them to "focus on the future". The unsafe working condtions still exist B.P.. B.P. takes advantage of the middle to low class hard working people of Texas City while paying them very little to work in still to this day unsafe working condtions to risk there lives to put food on the table for their family's. Since B.P. is the third largest planet they stick the profits in there popckets while stiffing there employees. They tell us to take water breaks when needed do to heavy fire resistant clothing, chemical masks, and working in 100+ degree weather. When we take a much needed water break so we don't pass out we are given dirty looks from our supervisors, declined for a raises, and or talked about by the supervisors to other employees. Therefor we try not to take a breaks and continue to work no matter what. An accident waiting to happen that can cause not 1 life but possible others due to unsafe working condtions. How many lives does it take for B.P. to realize they have many problems still in which they need to fix and fast before another life is gone?

[soileau96]

What happened March 23, 2005 at BP Texas city should NEVER be called an "accident." All 15 people killed were contract workers meeting in the trailer BP placed too close to the fatal blowdown stack. At the time of the explosion they were discussing work they were doing on a totally different area of the plant. As for the accusation that the workers were aware of the poor safety culture at the plant, my father was a brilliant senior electrical engineer for GE. He was at BP for the first day of a 3 day job to work on some GE motors. He had the opportunity to work in Iraq and make a substantial amount of money, but turned it down because of the risk involved. How ironic is it that he was killed during a "typical" day at work? He would not have accepted the job at BP if he would have known truth about the safety risks. Those killed could possibly be alive today if BP would have only corrected one of the dangerous problems that they knew about for years. How far could those in the trailer have run if only ONE of the 2 alarms that were broken would have sounded? I implore the Galveston District Attorney to press criminal charges against BP in an effort to bring punishment on those that chose profit over protecting life. The high ranking management of Enron was eventually punished for ruining many lives through their greed. How much more should BP be punished for making decisions based on increasing profit that resulted in the loss of many lives?

[jmehoff22]

I work at another plant in the area. Atmosheric blowdown stacks like the one at BP should have been removed years ago due to safety and environmental issues. Unfortunately, the EPA "grandfathered" the equipment instead of insisting on compliance with newer, safer technology. Its all about not requiring the oil companies to spend the money on capital projects; thereby, boosting corporate profits and making the economy appear healthier for our political leaders! Big business may have blood on its hands, but so do our governmental agencies charged with protecting workers and the environment!!! The EPA and OSHA are in my plant on a regular basis. I'm sure they visit a plant the size of BP Texas City even more frequently. I find it hard to believe that both agencies turned a blind eye to the hazards that existed around these blowdown stacks. It shouldn't take a fatality in the workplace to get corporations and the governmental agencies to take an interest in workplace safety. My condolences to the families who have suffered such a great loss

[patty915]

Bp's color green should stand for greedy. they don't care about the safety of people or who they hurt.They put people out of business,and cheat them out of money especilally women and people of color.

[jh4713006]

These events of loss of lives and injuries are unexcusable. At a minimum, Mr. Parus and Mr. Manzoni, should be prosecuted. Mr. Parus has admitted to the conditions. Mr. Manzoni admitted his knowing about the conditions, when on his interview, he states "I don't believe..." and "I think..."(they would have done differently). Either way, someone in his position is paid to know. And he should've known. But, the workers knew about the conditions, too. They put their lives at risk for money. Why would anyone continue employment at a place that they knew was unsafe?

[bobbre1]

Safety violations happen more often than companies will admit. Most are hidden by high level management,even though they keep stressing safety until you are blue in the face. They really mean let's keep it safe as long as there is no down time and it does not interfere with profits.
You had a show about a year ago of the problems with safety concerns at IBM. I worked for IBM and also for Micron Technology.
Your next program should be on Micron and it's leaking of chemicals. You will see that the IBM problems were really the tip of the iceberg in the semiconductor business. Please keep up the reporting on this, great job by Ed Bradley, as usual.
Bob B

[bobbre1]

Safety violations happen more often than companies will admit. Most are hidden by high level management,even though they keep stressing safety until you are blue in the face. They really mean let's keep it safe as long as there is no down time and it does not interfere with profits.
You had a show about a year ago of the problems with safety concerns at IBM. I worked for IBM and also for Micron Technology.
Your next program should be on Micron and it's leaking of chemicals. You will see that the IBM problems were really the tip of the iceberg in the semiconductor business. Please keep up the reporting on this, great job by Ed Bradley, as usual.
Bob B

[bobbre1]

Safety violations happen more often than companies will admit. Most are hidden by high level management,even though they keep stressing safety until you are blue in the face. They really mean let's keep it safe as long as there is no down time and it does not interfere with profits.
You had a show about a year ago of the problems with safety concerns at IBM. I worked for IBM and also for Micron Technology.
Your next program should be on Micron and it's leaking of chemicals. You will see that the IBM problems were really the tip of the iceberg in the semiconductor business. Please keep up the reporting on this, great job by Ed Bradley, as usual.
Bob B

[lukestep1]

Check our eknitsuer.com "featured" and read about the various manners that BP hurts people just because BP can. BP has gone un checked far too long...

[nottoligm43]

After viewing your broadcast of the BP refinery disaster of last year, I would like to make a comment.
I find it interesting the behavior of Eva Rowe. Although I do express sympathy with the loss of her parents, I do find Ms. Rowe's impression of BP rather appalling.
Toward the end of this report, BP apologized, recognized, and even, took full responsibility for the accident, setting aside restitution for victims, and victims' families.
Ms. Rowe acknowledged that BP offered her a settlement, but, her lack of tears, turned into "going after the jackpot". Ms. Rowe wants to expose BP documents. Why? The company just admitted fault.
Unfortunately, Ms. Rowe comes across as a money hungry addict, bucking the system, in order to gain more dollars, for, her own well being.
Simply a disgrace.

[linjbaker]

I have investigated BP for years at their Wyoming and Missouri refineries. To put it bluntly, the company has made a living off of old antiquated refineries that are polluting people and the environment. Cleaning up these places have never been their priority. BP used the Wyoming regulators and politicians to get Brownfields turned into a taxpayer responsibility instead of BP. Keep digging they are a bad company.

[noiiasberry]

Perhaps the state of Texas should require mandatory accountability from BP execs like John Manzoni. It appears that British Petroleum and Manzoni expected immunity from prosecution for such a horrific death toll of our hardworking citizens. What is more egregious, from Ed Bradley's report, is the "kiss my ***" spin British Petroleum has marketed to the media when the evidence clearly shows British Petoleum's indifference to safety standards, and a shocking disregard for American lives. "...no evidence of anyone consciously or intentionally taking actions or decisions that put others at risk."
What an insidious crock of "***."
John Manzoni and British Petroleum should be prosecuted for manslaughter, if not capital murder, considering the evidence presented on 60 Minutes.

[linsenbardt]

Thank you, 60 Minutes, for taking on this giant. It seems as though BP has so much money and power that no one wants to offend them. Thank you for sticking up for the American workers and showing the world the facts.
BP knew this horrific tragedy would happen one day, yet deliberately did nothing to prevent it. So yes, they are murderers and should be tried as such - I'm not sure why this would even be up for debate.
And what about OSHA and their inspectors. The hard workers of America pay a lot to this government department to make sure these 'giants' are safe to work at. I'm sure it's easy to make the smaller companies follow the rules, but they must be just as tough on the big companies.
My brother was in Texas City for just a few days to help BP, working in a trailer that had several times been cited by OSHA as being too close to the refinery to be safe. Then the explosion occurred and took away my bother's and his family's life, because no one fixed even one of the multitude of problems.
Thank you, 60 Minutes, for letting me share my views.
May my brother's death be the stone that slays the giant or at least teaches BP to be more humane.

[dwlanier]

I have worked for the two largest oil companies in the world over the last 15 years. Accidents can happen and do happen. I personally applaud BP for the changes that it%u2019s making and the money that it is spending to make everything right. No, they can not change what happen but you must realize that the refinery was purchased from Amoco. It inherited a problem. The safety at the site is outstanding almost to the point of slowing all work down just to make it safer. I hope that 60 minutes tells the after story on the incident and not just focus on the negative. Remember that all of our traffic laws and safety procedures in all business were formulated out of an accident or death. We have to learn from our mistakes and that people is what BP is doing.

[lhunnings]

I am glad to see CBS/60 Minutes take interest in BP and the horrible tragedy that happened on March 23, 2005. Now everyone will know the truth about BP. They were more concerned about their profits than human life. They just don't understand what they have done. They have forever changed the lives of 15 famalies. I know because my husband was killed that day. My life will never be the same, neither will my children's or grandchildren. Their negligence and stupidty has left a void in our family. They took away my best friend. I agree that management should not walk away scott free. Look at the management of Enron, they stole people's money and they didn't get away with it...BP took people's lives!! Management needs to pay, they made bad choices and now we have to suffer, not to mention the many people who were injured. Their lives will never be the same either. It angers me that BP had such a care free attitude toward process safety. They can't fathom what it is like to have someone you love so much ripped out of your life forever. It does my heart good to open up my local paper (almost every day) and see that BP has screwed up again. Thank you again for bringing to the public the truth about what happen that day and that it didn't have to happen.

[gretchwes]

As with any job or business, there are one or more people who must take responsibility when things are good and when things are bad. It seems that nobody at BP wants to take the responsibility of knowing that their company was run poorly. There are people to blame in this situation, and those of us who lost loved ones last March want to see justice take place. This is just like any other negligent homicide case in the sense that BP KNEW of their problems and did NOTHING to prevent deaths, which proves that they value money over lives. Let's not let our society accept this behavior. My father was a brilliant, young, healthy engineer who went to BP's facility just for a few days to fix some General Electric equipment. He should still be in my life today, but because BP did not take people's lives and their families that they would leave behind into consideration, we are left to morn him forever. This tragedy would be easier to accept if it was "just" an industrial accident, seeing that places like that can be dangerous, but this was not. This was negligent behavior that took loved ones away from their families and BP should pay the consequences, just like anyone else that does not follow rules.