CSB Updates Animation of Fatal 2005 BP Texas City Refinery Explosion

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board published an updated version of its popular “Anatomy of a Disaster” , depicting the events that led up to the explosion and fire at the BP America Refinery in Texas City, Texas, 15 years ago. The massive hydrocarbon release and resulting explosion, which killed 15 people and injured 180 others, led to an investigation that uncovered a lack of understanding and safety commitment by corporate management. The animation shows the layout of the refinery, including the isomerization unit that exploded, and both visually depicts and narrates via voice-over the errors leading up to the disaster.  The incident is the most serious refinery accident investigated by CSB, which resulted in new standards of care for corporate management, calling for the same level of scrutiny to be applied to process safety management as financial management. For more information, see the CSB’s .