Honeywell toxic releases linked to system failures, say investigators
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) this week released a final report on its investigation of three incidents that occurred at the Honeywell International, Inc., plant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, in 2003. Each involved toxic releases and, in one case, the death of a worker.
The CSB report pointed to management system deficiencies at the plant that were common to all three incidents. The company's hazard analyses did not provide an adequate review of all equipment, procedures and likely accident scenarios, the report said, noting that potentially dangerous "non-routine" situations at the plant were not always recognized as such.