API Statement on the Baker report

Bill Bush | 202.682.8069| bushw@api.org

WASHINGTON, January 16, 2007 – The American Petroleum Institute issued the following statement today following release of the Baker report on the incident at BP’s Texas City facility in March 2005:

“API member companies are committed to safe and environmentally sound operations, and U.S. refiners have maintained a strong safety record despite a challenging work environment that involves heavy equipment, hazardous materials, high temperatures and high pressure equipment. 

“Refinery safety statistics compiled by the federal government show that U.S. refineries have accident rates well below the U.S. manufacturing sector as a whole.  In 2004, the rate of job-related injuries and illnesses for U.S. petroleum refinery workers, as compiled by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, was 1.5 per 100 full-time employees, compared with a rate of 6.6 for all U.S. manufacturing employees.

“API has a long history in developing industry standards and recommended practices and is continually working to enhance them based on changes in technology and circumstances.  API recently provided new draft guidance on locating occupied trailers and similar structures in refineries and other chemical process plants.”