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The article discusses explosions which occurred years ago in Texas City, Texas, and Buncefield Oil Storage Depot in Hertfordshire, England, referencing reports from U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) and Major Incident Investigation Board (MIIB) of Great Britain. Topics covered include the causes of the explosions, how Texas City and Buncefield responded to the incidents and recommendations made following the incidents. Mentioned also are lessons that other sectors could learn from the incidents.

This article reports that on March 23, 2005, an early afternoon blast at BP Products North America's Texas City, Texas, refinery claimed the lives of 15 workers and injured more than 170 people. The company has issued an interim accident investigation report, although fluid-sample analysis and computer-modeling simulations have yet to be completed. The investigative team was directed to determine the cause of the explosion and make recommendations for preventing similar incidents in the future. A series of failures by BP personnel before and during startup of the isomerization (Isom) process unit in the refinery led to an explosion and fire. The investigation team determined that the explosion occurred because BP Isom unit managers and operators greatly overfilled and then overheated the raffinate splitter.

Reports on the failure of Texas oil refinery, BP Products North America Inc. to identify safety problems in the oil processing plant. Investigation conducted by The Chemical Safety & Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) concerning the recent explosion incidents in the plant; Rules of the oil refinery plant concerning the handling of flammable and hazardous materials inside piping and equipment; Assessments of Don Holmstrom, CSB Lead Investigator on the cause of a series of explosions.