CSB releases new video on inherently safer design

August 3 2012

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board last month released a new safety video examining the concept of inherent safety and its application across industry entitled “Inherently Safer: The Future of Risk Reduction.”

The video was prompted by the AUgust 2008 explosion that killed two workers and injured eight others at the Bayer CropScience chemical plant in Institute, West Virginia. “As a result of ongoing concern regarding the safety of the facility Congress directed the CSB to commission the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to study the feasibility of reducing or eliminating the inventory of methyl isocynanate (MIC) stored at the Bayer plant,” CSB explained. “The NAS study explored how the concept of ‘inherent Safety’ could be applied at the Bayer facility. The NAS panel noted that the goal of inherently safer design is not only to prevent an accident, but to reduce the consequences of an accident should one occur.”

The eleven-minute video features interviews with NAS panel members and staff as well as commentary from the CSB Chair and investigators. The video is available to stream or download here.