21 March 2007

Not all regulation is bad regulation

The board of British Petroleum is getting all of the blame for the disaster which struck its refinery in Texas City in 2005. However I am the only one that thinks that the lack of regulation that would have prohibited having workers, in dangerous and critical functions, who had worked 12 hour shifts for more than 4 weeks straight?

According to the report from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board:

"the ISOM unit operators were likely fatigued when the startup occurred. By March 23, operators had been working 12-hour shifts for 29 or more consecutive days.

I could hardly expect the great state of Texas to have something so progressive but surely there must be appropriate Federal legislation. And if not, why not?

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