Chemical Safety Board Ends Year with No Backlog

The US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) has eliminated its long-standing backlog of investigations. Since late July 2022, the CSB has issued a total of 17 final investigation reports, more than the agency has ever issued in such a short period. Six of the reports were issued in the last few months of 2022. The other 11 reports were issued in 2023.

“When I became the CSB’s interim executive in late July 2022 after the former CSB chairperson resigned, the CSB was faced with an unacceptable backlog of 17 open investigations and uncompleted reports that had built up over many years, dating as far back as 2016," said CSB Chairperson Steve Owens. "But the other CSB Board Members and I were determined to conclude these investigations and issue the reports as quickly as possible.  Eliminating the backlog has taken an extraordinary effort by every single employee at the CSB, working together as a team.  We are committed to continuing to move the CSB forward and making sure that such a serious backlog never happens again.”  

Since late July 2022, the CSB has released the following 17 investigation reports:

“Over the last 2 years the focus of CSB board members has been on eliminating the long-standing backlog," said Board Member Sylvia Johnson. "

Now that these legacy reports are out, we are better positioned to deploy to chemical incidents across the country and complete future reports more efficiently. The entire CSB team is to be commended for the agency reaching this historic milestone.”

The Board does not issue citations or fines but makes safety recommendations to companies, industry organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies such as OSHA and EPA.