For more information, go to: Southwest Industrial Gases Investigation Information Page

Washington, DC, August 9, 2007 - An investigative team from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has been deployed to the site of Tuesday's acetylene fire at the Hughes Christensen Co. manufacturing facility in The Woodlands, Texas, a suburb of Houston.

The CSB deployed a team to the serious explosions and fire at Southwest Industrial Gases Inc. in Dallas on July 25 that caused three injuries, destroyed the facility, and forced the temporary closure of major highways. Preliminary examination of news video suggests the involvement of a similar delivery trailer of Western International Gas and Cylinders Inc. in both incidents. The trailers in the Dallas incident were destroyed by the fire. This week's incident reportedly resulted in the evacuation of 800 employees.

CSB Investigator Robert Hall, P.E., who will lead the three-member investigative team said, "We will be examining the Hughes Christensen incident to see if there are further similarities to the Dallas fire."

Hughes Christensen Co. is an oil drilling bit manufacturer. The company is a subsidiary of Baker Hughes Inc., a Houston-based oil field service company. Western International Gas and Cylinders Inc. is a supplier of industrial welding gases based in Bellville, Texas.

The CSB is an independent federal agency charged with investigating industrial chemical accidents. The agency's board members are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CSB investigations look into all aspects of chemical accidents, including physical causes such as equipment failure as well as inadequacies in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems.

The Board does not issue citations or fines but does make safety recommendations to plants, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA. Visit our website, www.csb.gov.

For more information, please contact Public Affairs Specialists Jennifer Jones at (202) 261-3603 or Hillary Cohen at (202) 261-3601.