CSB Releases Farewell Video of Departing Chairman
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) today released a farewell interview with outgoing Chairman Carolyn W. Merritt, whose term ends Aug. 2, reflecting on her five years with the agency. The ten-minute videotaped interview is available from the Video Room of the agency's Web site, CSB.gov.
In the interview, Merritt discusses the significance of the tragic BP Texas City accident, her 2006 interview with 60 Minutes correspondent Ed Bradley, and her vision for the future of the CSB.
"I think there is a real moral obligation for companies who say they value people to value people more than they value equipment and their facilities," Merritt said. "People are irreplaceable and they should be protected."
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.
For more information, contact Public Affairs Specialist Kate Baumann at 202-261-7612.