Explosion in Texas Town

[FAB1]

An industrial accident is not the same thing as a coordinated attack on innocent spectators.

Just curious Jim, if you're so anti capitalist, why are you on a free market capitalism site like TSP Talk? Do you flip a coin like the Batman villain Two-Face to decide which Jim we are going to see posting?

When you drink constantly from the poisoned well of the MSM, UNION, SOCALIST complex you are sure to behave in an erratic manner full of contradictions just like you see on the Noos

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

Do you flip a coin like the Batman villain Two-Face to decide which Jim we are going to see posting?

nope, he is pretty consistent... just not sure why he still lives in the US... I think France is calling his name

 

[Viva_La_Migra]

I want to know when the police are going to go door-to-door in under-regulated Texas-- to arrest the man responsible for violating the law by failing to coordinate with DHS, and report 270 tons of ammonium nitrate, and ultimately contributing to the deaths of 15 individuals.

Where are the "weapon of mass destruction" charges for him?

View attachment 23477

An industrial accident is not the same thing as a coordinated attack on innocent spectators.

Just curious Jim, if you're so anti capitalist, why are you on a free market capitalism site like TSP Talk? Do you flip a coin like the Batman villain Two-Face to decide which Jim we are going to see posting?

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

Oh...wait... What do you mean that a company isn't a person?

View attachment 23478

And, once again your assumption is incorrect... You always assume that anyone who disagrees with you must be a Romney (or Bush [1 or 2], etc) supporter... seriously???

You are not the only one who thinks independently, just the only one who THINKS they are...

Sometimes people just say stupid stuff, mistakes, you know... being human. But thank goodness you are the only human that doesn't make a mistake...

At least we know POTUS is human:
"What I was suggesting — you're absolutely right that John McCain has not talked about my Muslim faith..." — Obama on ABC's This Week.

 

[James48843]

I agree that if this company was negligent in their responsibilities, then they should be held accountable. You are talking about a company, not a person.

Oh...wait... What do you mean that a company isn't a person?

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

I want to know when the police are going to go door-to-door in under-regulated Texas-- to arrest the man responsible for violating the law by failing to coordinate with DHS, and report 270 tons of ammonium nitrate, and ultimately contributing to the deaths of 15 individuals.

Where are the "weapon of mass destruction" charges for him?

View attachment 23477

Sounds like you are another Boston Marathon Bomber sympathizer... sad James, so sad

I agree that if this company was negligent in their responsibilities, then they should be held accountable. You are talking about a company, not a person, and more importantly not terrorism.

If you don't like it in the US, move to another country... I am sure you have one in mind you wish the US was more like... grrrrr

 

[James48843]

I want to know when the police are going to go door-to-door in under-regulated Texas-- to arrest the man responsible for violating the law by failing to coordinate with DHS, and report 270 tons of ammonium nitrate, and ultimately contributing to the deaths of 15 individuals.

Where are the "weapon of mass destruction" charges for him?

 

[James48843]

For the grammar impaired - like our Journolists...
This Texas fertilizer plant is a tragedy.
The Boston Bombing is murder.

Or...the Texas fertilizer plant very well may be negligent homicide. I wouldn't rule that out yet.

 

[Boghie]

For the grammar impaired - like our Journolists...
This Texas fertilizer plant is a tragedy.
The Boston Bombing is murder.

 

[James48843]

Ok, I found where that's from...

West Texas Oil Refinery Explodes, Injures 4 People | Fox News

Who knows why people do this internet hoax stuff.

Anyway, back to the discussion from before. Who gets sued first?

GREAT FIND. THANKS FOR THE CORRECTION.

 

[nnuut]

Funny thing how people lie about things that they don't have to lie about. Make it look as bad as they can, but for what reason, happens all the time.

 

[MrBowl]

Ok, I found where that's from...

West Texas Oil Refinery Explodes, Injures 4 People | Fox News

Who knows why people do this internet hoax stuff.

Anyway, back to the discussion from before. Who gets sued first?

 

[MrBowl]

Re: * Explosion in Texas Town

Photo of cloud from West, Texas plant explosion:

View attachment 23434

I've seen that photo a lot and I wonder where it comes from. It's a very impressive of an explosion, but I don't believe its the one Wednesday at West, TX. For one thing, the picture I've seen with a Sonic in the foreground shows the top of the mushroom cloud rising up to a high overcast sky. This picture also looks like its earlier in the day than 6 pm local. West is a smaller town than that, and it looks like this picture is taken from a hill about 10 miles away or so. There are no hills east of I-35 so that would have to be from the west side of I-35. I saw another person claim that photo was from the Arlington area, way too far away, so I know that the its being used falsely already.

Anyway, I could be wrong, and I certainly don't blame you. But now I want to find out when this photo was taken and where it really is.

 

[nnuut]

Re: * Explosion in Texas Town

Thanks for that link, Nnutt.

Great read- everyone should read it.

It highlights how the Chairman "*Republican Tim Walberg, (t) of Michigan failed to invite OSHA and Department of Labor in a timely fashion and no one from OSHA was able to appear, in a hearing about OSHA.

And highlights that the republican budget cut OSHA's funding for inspections by 23%.

Thanks for that very informative link.

I would think that this years budget had little to do with OSHA's performance over the last 15 years.

 

[James48843]

Re: * Explosion in Texas Town

Thanks for that link, Nnutt.

Great read- everyone should read it.

It highlights how the Chairman "*Republican Tim Walberg, (t) of Michigan failed to invite OSHA and Department of Labor in a timely fashion and no one from OSHA was able to appear, in a hearing about OSHA.

And highlights that the republican budget cut OSHA's funding for inspections by 23%.

Thanks for that very informative link.

 

[nnuut]

Re: * Explosion in Texas Town

Appears they have solved the problem with lack of OSHA inspections, NOT?
IS OSHA UNDERMINING STATE EFFORTS
TO PROMOTE WORKPLACE SAFETY?
HEARING
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON WORKFORCE PROTECTIONS
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
AND THE WORKFORCE
U.S. H
OUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED TWELFTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
HEARING HELD IN WASHINGTON, DC, JUNE 16, 2011
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-112hhrg66795/pdf/CHRG-112hhrg66795.pdf

 

[James48843]

Re: * Explosion in Texas Town

So OSHA had no idea that this plant wasn't following OSHA requirements? Seems to me that the company neglected to follow the requirements and OSHA dropped the BALL on this one by letting them get away with NOT meeting the requirements. Another Great SNAFU by a government organization, how many more are there just sitting there ready to explode?

OSHA runs inspections in 34 states and territories, while the remaining 22 states have opted out of federal OSHA oversite and are responsible for their own state inspections and rule enforcement. Texas is one of those states that has decided NOT to fund it's own state inspection program, and instead relies ONLY on the federal workforce of OSHA inspections. (Thank you Texas republicans for making sure there are little to no OSHA inspections in your state- it may be 126 YEARS between inspection, according to the article.)

If there is a lack of Occupational Safety an Health oversite, (OSHA)- it's in large part because the Texas State Government has intentionally reduced resources and does not provide the oversight equivilent to a good Federal workforce, and the result is the ONLY inspections that take place are the overworked Federal workers- who have no knowledge that Ammonium Nitrate was stored there- because the private company FAILED to report it as required on their EPA hazard plan, and they did not plan for any fire or explosion.


Here is the GAO report on the lack of resources given in those state-run NON-OSHA states.

U.S. GAO - Workplace Safety and Health: OSHA Can Better Respond to State-Run Programs Facing Challenges

 

[nnuut]

Re: * Explosion in Texas Town

So OSHA had no idea that this plant wasn't following OSHA requirements? Seems to me that the company neglected to follow the requirements and OSHA dropped the BALL on this one by letting them get away with NOT meeting the requirements. Another Great SNAFU by a government organization, how many more are there just sitting there ready to explode?

 

[James48843]

Re: * Explosion in Texas Town

Texas Fertilizer Plant Hadn't Been inspected In Five Years

Last Inspection Of West, Texas Fertilizer Plant Was In 1985
By Bryce Covert on Apr 19, 2013

The Associated Press is reporting that the fertilizer plant in West, Texas that exploded on Wednesday night hasn’t been inspected by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) since 1985, nearly three decades ago. It was issued a fine on its last inspection for a violation related to storing ammonia:
Records reviewed by The Associated Press show that OSHA issued the West Chemical & Fertilizer Co., as the plant was called at the time, a $30 fine for a serious violation for storage of anhydrous ammonia.

OSHA cited the plant for four other serious violations of respiratory protection standards but did not issue fines. The maximum fine for a serious violation was $1,000.

The plant was also cited for failing to get a permit in 2006 after a complaint of a strong ammonia smell. That smell was reported to be “very bad” on the night of the explosion.

A day after the explosion, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report documenting a widespread lack of workplace inspections by state OSHA programs.

After surveying 22 state-run programs, it found that the agencies had problems with hiring and retaining inspectors, in part due to low pay. State budget cuts have had a big impact, leading to funding problems, and the federal agency often hasn’t taken over state plans because its own budget is too tight. This has meant that a workplace only gets a visit from OSHA inspectors every 99 years on average, with some state programs even worse. In Texas, a plant can only expect an inspection every 126 years.

The report led Rep. George Miller (D-CA) to introduce a bill to give the federal agency more authority to intervene in state plans and strengthen fines and prosecutions against violations. The lack of OSHA inspections contributes to a high rate of workplace deaths in the U.S., with over 4,500 in 2010 alone. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has already stated its opposition to Democrats’ efforts to strengthen workplace safety regulations.

Source: Last Inspection of West, Texas Fertilizer Plant Was In 1985

Note: I saw another report this morning that said that the plant had notified county emergency officials that it was storing 270 TONS of Ammonium Nitrate on site- but did not report that information to other local emergency officials as required. I am trying to find confirmation of that article. Ammonium Nitrate is far more dangerous that simple annihydrous ammonia. By law, if they store more than 10,000 pounds of Ammonium Nitrate, they are required to file a safety plan with the EPA. The company filed a notice with the state, but never filed a plan with the EPA, had no blast walls to protect the area, and the EPA plan filed previously did not even discuss or envision a fire or explosion.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/...m-nitrate-anhydrous-ammonia-liquid-fertilizer


Bad news.

 

[James48843]

* Explosion in Texas Town

Photo of cloud from West, Texas plant explosion: