MSHA News Release No. 99-0806
Mine Safety and Health Administration - USDOL
Contact: Rodney Brown
Phone: 703-235-1452
Released Friday, August 6, 1999
Investigation into Cause of Blast Continues
MSHA to Hold Public Hearing on Explosion at Kaiser Aluminum Plant
The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety
and Health Administration (MSHA) will conduct a public hearing next month into
the cause of the July 5 explosion that injured 21 workers at the Kaiser Aluminum
and Chemical Plant in Gramercy, La. Agency investigators will interview workers
familiar with plant operations and others with knowledge of events surrounding
the explosion.
"Our objective is to find the cause of this explosion and
identify corrective actions and strategies that will prevent future
occurrences," said Davitt McAteer, assistant secretary of labor for mine safety
and health. "Our investigators need information about the sequence of events to
determine the answers. Those being called to testify hopefully can provide that
important information."
The investigative hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. on Sept. 8 in the St. James Parish Courthouse located at 5800 LA 44, in Convent, La. The hearing room, in the second floor council chambers, seats approximately 100 people. The hearing is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. MSHA estimates the hearing will take two to three weeks.
Investigators have combed through the debris left by the blast to identify,
gather and analyze evidence that will help find the cause of the accident.
Laboratory testing and analysis of designated materials from the explosion is
being conducted at MSHA's research facility in Pittsburgh, Pa. Investigators
also must determine if Kaiser violated any Federal safety regulations designed
to protect workers on the job.
All questioning at the hearing will be by an MSHA
panel of investigators. Representatives of Kaiser, the workers or any other
interested person can submit written questions, suggest areas of inquiry, or
recommend possible witnesses for MSHA to consider. The agency will determine
whether the suggested questions will be asked or suggested witnesses called. Any
witnesses called will be subpoenaed by MSHA. The agency encourages witnesses to
review pertinent records and data to refresh their memory before appearing at
the hearing.
Upon completion of the
investigation, MSHA will issue a detailed report revealing the investigators'
conclusions concerning the cause of the accident. That report also will be made
available to the public.
