The Chemical Safety Board says its fy 2013 budget request will allow it to complete open investigations and hire some new investigators. The $11,403,000 proposal will let the CSB "fill two new investigator positions and allow the board to focus on the completion of a significant backlog of open major accident investigations,” said CSB Chairperson Rafael Moure-Eraso. “The CSB will expand its work to protect workers, the public and the environment from hazardous chemical releases by issuing quality reports with high-impact recommendations. And we continue our proven efforts at safety advocacy and video outreach that I believe are helping to save workers’ lives.”
In its annual budget justification for Congress, the Board noted a number of recent successes, including the completion of reports on major accidents at the Bayer, DuPont, and Hoeganaes companies as well as studies focused on laboratory safety and on protecting the public from oil production site hazards. The justification also cited progress made in closing open safety recommendations, such as the CSB’s call for ending the practice of gas blows for cleaning power plant piping and for prohibiting indoor purging of gas pipes at industrial and commercial facilities.