The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is an independent, scientific investigatory agency, not an enforcement body. Although the CSB was created by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, it did not begin operations until January 1998. The CSB is made up of a five-member board of chemical safety experts who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate to serve five-year terms. In addition, the board employs approximately 40 people.
Scope
The CSB investigates industrial chemical accidents to assess root causes and identify factors that could prevent future catastrophes. The agency does not issue fines or citations, but makes recommendations to individual facilities, regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA, consensus standard organizations, industrial organizations, and labor groups. For the most part, the CSB is a non-regulatory entity; although, it does oversee chemical accident reporting requirements at 40 CFR 1604.
Key definitions
- Recommendation: Suggestions for actions to specific parties, issued with the intention of future accident prevention. They are based on the lessons derived from each investigation or study, and are listed at the conclusion of each report. Recommendations are classified as open (the CSB is still awaiting an acceptable response) or closed (action has been taken to meet the CSB’s recommendation).
- Root cause: A deficiency in a safety management system or any factor that would have prevented an accident if it had not occurred.
Summary of requirements
The mission of the CSB is to promote the prevention of major chemical accidents at fixed facilities. The board:
- Conducts root cause investigations of chemical accidents at industrial facilities. Investigations may include:
- Conducting detailed interviews of witnesses, such as plant employees, managers, and neighbors.
- Testing chemical samples and equipment from accident sites.
- Reviewing company safety records, inventories, and operating procedures.
- Drafts key findings and issue recommendations to plants, regulatory agencies, industrial organizations, and labor groups.
- Remains independent of other federal agencies to more effectively review their regulations and enforcement activities.
- Adopts reports through a written vote of the Board or in a formal pubic meeting near the incident site or in Washington D.C.
- Conducts investigations of general chemical accident hazards, even if no specific incident has occurred.
- Receives reports from stationary source owners and operators when they suffer an accidental release that qualifies for reporting requirements under Part 1604.
