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About POGO's Federal Contractor Misconduct Database (FCMD)

The government awards contracts to companies with histories of misconduct such as contract fraud and environmental, ethics, and labor violations. In the absence of a centralized federal database listing instances of misconduct, the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) is providing such data. We believe that it will lead to improved contracting decisions and public access to information about how the government spends hundreds of billions of taxpayer money each year on goods and services. Report an instance of misconduct »

BP P.L.C.

Workplace Safety Violations (Texas City Refinery)

Date: 09/22/2005 (Date of Settlement)

Misconduct Type: Labor

Enforcement Agency: Labor – OSHA

Contracting Party: None

Court Type: Administrative

Amount: $21,361,500

Disposition: Fine

Synopsis: “On March 23, 2005, an explosion and fire occurred in the Isomerization Unit of BP Products’ Texas City refinery as the unit was coming out of planned maintenance. Fifteen contractors died in the incident and many others were injured… The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, among other agencies, have conducted or are conducting investigations. At the conclusion of their investigation, OSHA issued citations alleging more than 300 violations of 13 different OSHA standards, and BP Products agreed not to contest the citations. BP Products settled that matter with OSHA on September 22, 2005, paying a $21.3 million penalty and undertaking a number of corrective actions designed to make the refinery safer.” See related BP Amoco P.L.C. misconduct instances, "2005 Texas City Refinery Explosion – Civil Litigation" and "Texas City Refinery Explosion - Guilty Plea."