CSB Announces Webcast of January 17 Public Meeting in Washington, DC, to Release Final Report into Fatal 2011 Explosion and Fire in Hawaii Involving Fireworks Disposal

Key Issues Include Safety Requirements for Contractors under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Federal Hazardous Waste Rules, and Good Practices for Fireworks Disposal 

News Release from CSB Washington, DC, January 14, 2013 

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) announces that its January 17, 2013, public meeting in Washington, DC, will be available via webcast.  The public meeting will present the findings and formal safety recommendations into the April 8, 2011, explosion and fire that killed five workers at a storage facility used by Donaldson Enterprises (DEI) near Honolulu, Hawaii. The explosion took place during the disposal of professional grade fireworks that had been illegally labeled for consumer use by a manufacturer in China and then seized by federal customs agents when they were brought into the U.S. DEI had been hired by a federal prime contractor, the VSE Corporation of Alexandria, VA, to dispose of the fireworks.

CSB Chairperson Rafael Moure-Eraso said, “The CSB’s webcast will allow for stakeholders across the country to view the CSB’s public meeting, I am looking forward to a dynamic meeting with questions and comments from a variety of viewers.”

Participants are also encouraged to join the meeting in person in Washington, DC; the meeting will begin at 2:30 p.m. EST in the Horizon Room of the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center located at 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004.  

At the conclusion of the public comment period, the Board will consider whether to approve the final report and recommendations.  The Board meeting is free and open to the public.  Pre-registration is encouraged but not required to attend the public meeting in person; to register for the event, please send email to publicmeeting@csb.gov.  Members of the audience will have an opportunity to comment on the draft report and new safety recommendations, as presented by the investigative staff.

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 Communications Director Hillary Cohen, (202) 261-3601, cell (202) 446-8094 email: hillary.cohen@csb.gov or Sandy Gilmour at (202) 251-5496 email: sandy.gilmour@csb.gov.

Registration for attending the webcast public meeting can be done online at: http://bit.ly/XqwC3e

During the public meeting viewers can email comments or questions to questions@csb.gov.

Investigation Details: Donaldson Enterprises, Inc. Fatal Fireworks Disassembly Explosion and Fire

Star-Adv: Report into explosion at Waikele could set national safety rules