Connecticut Construction Industry Officials Request OSHA To Toughen Safety Standards In Light Of Kleen Energy Plant Accident In Middletown, CT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) August 30, 2010 --

(Hartford, CT) – As developments continue to unfold each month in regard to the Kleen Energy Systems plant explosion in February 2010 in Middletown, CT, several Connecticut construction industry officials gathered informally last week to review the official investigations, government findings and penalties. As a result of the current findings of federal officials, specifically the U.S. Occupational and Safety Administration (OSHA), Connecticut construction officials recommended that serious consideration be given to the recommendations from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) in order to truly prevent future accidents.

“We commend OSHA for its thorough investigation at the Kleen Energy site and the work it conducts on a daily basis on behalf of workers across the United States. However, OSHA officials now need to look at the bigger situation, here in Connecticut and at similar sites in the United States, and make safety protocol changes to prevent further explosions. We are proud of the safety training our workers undergo here in Connecticut and want to re-assure our workers that each workplace is safe so they can return home each night,” said Charles LeConche, business manager, Connecticut Laborers’ District Council. “Remember, Connecticut is only one of seven states that mandate OSHA 10 hour training for each worker. This became law in 2007 and as recently as 2009 we tried to expand this safety training in the legislature but groups like CBIA opposed this safety initiative.”

“While we are stunned at this tragedy, we need to take a hard look at preventing any type of small or large scale accident happening again. While OSHA points to a variety of factors that possibly could have contributed to the accident, it’s undeniably true that the use natural gas to clean the pipeline fueled the explosion. That’s why the U.S. Chemical Board’s recommendations need to be given priority consideration,” said John Olsen, president, Connecticut AFL-CIO. “I’m proud of all of our workers here in Connecticut and the training each one of them undergoes to perform their tasks. Now, we just need to make sure our workplace standards protect our workers.”

The CSB found that the practice of gas blows is inherently unsafe. In its investigation, the CSB found that several safe alternatives to pipe cleaning are available to the industry are already in use, such as compressed air, nitrogen and the use of a solid cleaning device propelled by compressed air. Furthermore, the CSB found companies have already begun to ban the practice and at least one leading manufacturer of natural gas electric turbines has informed its customers it will not support the practice of gas blows to clear out pipes leading to the turbines.

“While Connecticut along with New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Missouri and Nevada are the only states that mandate OSHA 10 hour training, I would like to see if our state could take the lead and mandate even further training requirements so workers will always have the opportunity to keep pace with new technologies and safety practices,” explained Jay Sabitoni, executive director, New England Laborers’ Training Academy, Pomfret Center, CT.

The Connecticut Laborers’ District Council represents approximately 7,500 members employed in the construction industry, public sector and other building and trade fields throughout the state. The Laborers’ International Union, founded in 1903 largely by immigrant workers, includes more than 800,000 members who work in construction and hazardous materials remediation, as well as in healthcare, the U.S. Postal Service and other public service sectors of the economy. For more information, call 860.296.8697 or visit www.CTLPL.com.

More information can be found online at http://www.CTLPL.com

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