Fertilizer company fined $118K by OSHA over April explosion that killed 15
The owner of a fertilizer depot in West, Texas, at which a fatal explosion occurred in April has been cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and fined $118,300.
The two dozen alleged violations included unsafe handling and storage of some 540,000 pounds of ammonium nitrate, a fertilizer component that is also an explosive substance, the Wall Street Journal (sub. req.) reports.
A spokesman for West Fertilizer Co. said its lawyers are reviewing the allegations.
The April explosion reportedly killed 15 people, injured some 200 more, leveled a significant amount of the town and could be heard 45 miles away.
See also:
ABAJournal.com: “Could better regulatory enforcement have prevented deadly Texas fertilizer plant explosion?”
ABAJournal.com: “Fertilizer explosion caused some $100M in damage; plant had ‘pathetic’ $1M in insurance”
ABAJournal.com: “City sues both owner and supplier of fertilizer plant that exploded”
