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10 September, 2005
USW in the US expressed more concern over BP’s safety inside American refineries after a 28 July explosion and fire at the company’s Amoco refinery in Texas City, Texas. The incident, which caused no deaths or injuries, comes four months after a BP explosion on 23 March that killed 15 and injured 170 in Texas City. The most recent accident occurred along hydrogen lines in one of the refinery’s Resid Hydrotesting Units, an area that removes sulphur from heavy crude. USW has been critical of the investigation in the aftermath of the 23 March blast, specifically placement of blame on workers and flawed information that was disclosed. USW Region Six Director Gary Beevers asked, “How many accidents is it going to take for BP to get off the dime and start cooperating with us to make this plant safer?” BP is the leading company when it comes to refinery deaths in America over the past ten years with 22. In 2003-04 alone, BP recorded over 100 accidental releases of illegal air emissions at its Texas City refinery.