For more information, go to: CSB Statement at Public Forum

Washington, DC, December 20, 2007 - Commenting today at a New York City public forum on the final draft of the city's proposed Fire Code, U.S. Chemical Safety Board Investigations Manager Stephen Selk, PE, applauded the city's Mayor, City Council and Fire Department's efforts on its comprehensive revision of the city's nearly 90-year-old fire code and encouraged applicable training of fire inspectors.

Four years ago, the Chemical Safety Board called upon New York City to revise its fire code as a result its investigation into a September 25, 2002, chemical explosion at Kaltech Industries, a small sign manufacturer in the Chelsea area. The accident injured 36 people and caused extensive damage to five floors of a 10 story mixed-use building. The CSB's investigation concluded the accident occurred when employees improperly mixed hazardous material and that the New York City Fire Code did not adequately address storage, handling and use of hazardous chemicals.

Addressing today's hearing, Mr. Selk, who led the CSB investigation of the Kaltech explosion, told officials, "Completing a final draft of the revised fire code brings New York City one step closer to implementation. The CSB applauds the steps that the city has taken to improve safety."

Mr. Selk added that a particular concern of the CSB in this investigation was the fact that training was not available in languages that were understood by workers. At Kaltech the majority of workers were immigrants; employees spoke Polish, Spanish, and Swahili but were not provided training materials in their native languages. Employers should take steps to ensure all workers understand proper procedures, Mr. Selk said.

The CSB also encourages the city to use the momentum of its fire code revision to promptly implement the two other CSB recommendations that are not included in the proposed fire code. The first is to ensure that its fire inspectors are properly trained on issues of hazardous substances in the new code. The second is that the Fire Department and the city's Environmental Protection department establish a program to exchange facility information regarding hazardous chemical inventories.

Mr. Selk noted, "A fire code is only as effective as its enforcement, it is important that fire inspectors receive training so they are able to apply these new regulations."

As the Board learned at a public hearing held in New York City in April 2003, city fire inspectors conduct about 100,000 hazardous materials inspections every year. For many small businesses, these are the only regular government safety inspections they will ever receive.

Thoroughly training city fire inspectors on the new code and ensuring that hazardous information is shared among related agencies will improve both enforcement and emergency response and will help to prevent another incident like the one in Chelsea five years ago.

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, contact Director of Public Affairs Dr. Daniel Horowitz, 202-441-6074.