Washington — Chemical Safety Board member Sylvia Johnson is calling for enhanced focus on contract worker safety management as the agency observes a trend of serious incidents related to opening equipment.
CSB recently released the fourth volume of its expanded incident summaries that includes additional information on 2025 events in Martinez, CA, and Freeport, TX. In both cases, among other previous incidents, contract workers were involved in disassembling the wrong equipment, resulting in an accidental release.
Speaking during a March 19 public business meeting, Johnson advocated for stronger systems, training and leadership to help prevent such incidents.
“Contract workers perform some of the most hazardous work in the chemical industry and they face the same risks (as employees),” she said. “They deserve the same protection. Safety can’t depend on a badge color or payroll category. Every worker deserves to return home safely.”
The meeting marked the first for the agency since Congress passed a set of appropriations bills in January that allocated $14 million for CSB in fiscal year 2026.
“We just want to express our appreciation here today to the Congress for their recognition of the very important work that the CSB does and their commitment during this fiscal year to fund the agency,” Board Chair Steve Owens said.
Chemical incident investigator Eduardo Alvarez delivered an update on reporting under CSB’s accidental release reporting rule, saying it has “returned to a more typical level” after surging in the fall.
Alvarez said the agency, through February, has received 609 accidental release reports since the rule went into effect on March 23, 2020. That includes 334 (54.8%) linked to serious injuries and 92 (15.1%) involving fatalities.
Johnson also addressed CSB’s March visit to the Accurate Energetic Systems LLC explosives manufacturing facility in McEwen, TN. An agency investigation into a fatal October incident in which 16 workers were killed and seven others were injured is ongoing.
Johnson said it’s the “deadliest incident” the board has investigated since its inception in 1998.
“Trying to explain to one family why their loved one didn’t return from work is heartbreaking enough, but trying to explain it to 16 families is almost impossible to comprehend,” she said. “Those conversations stay with you, and they remind you why this work matters, because behind every investigation is a promise. We owe these families a promise that their loss will lead to change. No one should lose their life simply for going to work.”
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Original article published by Safety+Health an NSC publication