By Bracewell.
On January 14, 2025, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazardous Investigation Board (“CSBâ€) released Volume One of a series of detailed reports on serious accidental chemical incidents reported to CSB under the Accidental Release Reporting Rule, implemented in March 2020.
Prior to July 2022, CSB incident report was limited to basic incident data—facility name, location, date, and outcome: fatality, serious injury or substantial property damage. CSB’s new initiative represents a landmark shift in chemical safety transparency. The release of detailed incident summaries, including analysis of probable cause and contributing factors, creates significantly increased legal and operational risks that require immediate strategic attention.
Volume One: A Look at the Data
This initial report meticulously details 26 events from April 2020 to September 2023 across 15 states, including California, Texas and Louisiana. The incidents, resulting in 5 fatalities, 17 serious injuries, and approximately $700 million in damages, involved refineries, chemical plants, and food processing facilities.
Volume One does not just report the what—it delves into the why, detailing various incident types and causes. This means that specifics about incidents, previously kept internal, will now be accessible to the public, including employees, communities and competitors. As a result, companies should expect heightened scrutiny and a renewed focus on preventing incidents.
