Because of the Boston bomb attack, the other big story that week got less news coverage. The fire and explosion at the West Fertilizer plant in West, Texas killed 14 people (10 of them first firefighters and other first responders) and wounded 200 more. It also destroyed a nearby school, homes and businesses.
It was the explosion of stored chemicals that made it so devastating. Now we're learning that fertilizer manufacturing plants are dangerous places and are supposed to be regulated. And here is the scandal of the failure of our government regulatory system.
Ammonium hyrdoxide, used in making fertilizer, is the culprit here. It is dangerous because it causes explosions like this. I learned today (from MSNBC) that the West Fertilizer had 1300 times the minimum amount of the chemical that can be kept in storage without having to be registered and regulated. They had not done this.
A likely reason is that they would have been required to have a storage facility with blast walls to prevent just such an explosion. And that costs money. In addition, I learned that, because OSHA is so underfunded (guess who tries to kill regulation by cutting funding?), this plant had not been inspected since 1985. As the reporter put it, "It has not been inspected in my lifetime."
This sounds like criminal negligence, at least, on the part of the owners.
Now, think about this. There are probably many other plants just like this around the country -- other disasters waiting to happen.
MSNBC's interviewee also said that 4,600 people lose their lives every year in workplace accidents: that's 13 every day. Not to be crass about it, but that's more lives lost every year than in the 9/11 bombing plus the Boston bombing combined. But will Congress do anything to increase regulatory laws and then fund OSHA?
Don't hold your breath. Remember, Romney campaigned on cutting regulations that hamper business. That's one thing both wings of the Republican party agree on.
Ralph
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