An accidental release of flammable chemicals ignited at the BP-Husky Toledo oil refinery, creating a fire that resulted in the deaths of two employees and resulted in substantial property damage at the refinery, an independent federal agency reported Monday
The explosion and fire occurred Sept. 20 at the Oregon facility, resulting in the deaths early the next day of Oregon brothers Max and Ben Morrissey, both fathers of young children who were well-known in the community.
As part of its ongoing investigation, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board said that it has already interviewed more than 80 people and anticipates interviewing 20 to 30 more.
"The CSB investigation team is conducting witness and employee interviews, documenting the incident scene, collecting equipment and equipment components, obtaining documents, and evaluating recorded process data," the board said in its written update Monday.
The board is examining the valves and interconnected piping associated with the refinery’s fuel gas mix drum.
Investigators are focusing on a release of flammable naphtha from the fuel gas mix drum, based on information from various sources at the refinery, the board said.
Access to the area surrounding the fuel gas mix drum is restricted due to the presence of asbestos fibers, the board said.
Installed around 2016, the fuel gas mix drum combines various sources of flammable gases for use as fuel in refinery furnaces and boilers.
The fuel gas mix drum is primarily a vapor-filled vessel, the board said, and is equipped with features to remove liquids that could be involved with vapor or that otherwise enter the refinery’s fuel gas system.
As the investigation continues, the board said:
- BP, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the United Steelworkers International and Local 1-346 are conducting parallel investigations of the incident.
- The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, OSHA, and BP-Husky Refining LLC signed an evidence and site control agreement to preserve evidence.
- BP, OSHA, and the United Steelworkers, which represents hourly workers at the refinery, have been cooperating with the chemical safety board team.
Jim Witt, president of United Steelworkers Local 1-346, said that the refinery remains shut down but workers remain on the job at the site.
"It's just the first step in a long investigation," Mr. Witt said of the chemical board's initial findings, adding that up to 30 additional interviews were planned "to narrow everything in."
"They'll get...to what the cause was," he said. "That is what the CSB does on these investigations."
The Steelworkers investigation is ongoing, Mr. Witt said, estimating that would at least take a couple of more weeks.
Scott Allen, federal OSHA spokesman in Chicago, said that agency's investigation was continuing.
"We have up to six months to complete the investigation," he said Monday. "It doesn't mean it will take that long. But with one as complex as this, it could take a good portion of that time."
Mr. Allen was checking for any further updates on OSHA's work and said that OSHA would not be commenting on the chemical board's investigation.
The refinery is operated by BP Products North America Inc., the board said.
BP issued a brief statement Monday.
"BP has been cooperating with the CSB team and the OSHA investigation," Christina Audisho, BP media relations manager, said in a written statement. "We remain committed to learning from this tragic incident."
No other information was provided by BP on new information from the investigation and any timeline for the refinery to restart and resume its operations. A message also was left with the chemical board.
First Published October 31, 2022, 6:22 p.m.
