(October 30, 2006)--Internal documents show budget cuts and a lack of leadership contributed to significant safety problems at BP's Texas City refinery.

In preliminary findings, the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board Monday said BP management knew of maintenance, spending and infrastructure problems well before last year's explosion.

The March 2005 blast killed 15 people and injured more than 170.

Board Chairwoman Carolyn Merritt says BP did respond before the explosion with a variety of measures aimed at improving safety.

She says that while the focus of many of the moves was on improving compliance and reducing work injury rates, "catastrophic safety risks remained."

BP officials say they're surprised by the findings and they hope the federal board's final written report will further explain them.

Last December, BP's internal report blamed the blast on failures by management at the refinery, saying it didn't make safety a priority, tolerated risks and failed to communicate.

But BP added that it found no evidence of anyone consciously or intentionally taking actions or decisions that put others at risk.

Click Here For CSB Web Site

More News >>Sports >> Weather >>