Washington, DC - Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) and Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) will join victims’ family members in a press conference to announce new legislation related to the 2005 BP refinery accident.

An explosion on March 23, 2005 killed 15 workers who were technically employed by contract firms but worked at BP’s refinery in Texas City. The press conference will take place May 21.

“When I tried to find out why the refinery exploded and learn more about the people who were killed, I discovered that BP had not reported the deaths to OSHA [The Occupational Safety and Health Administration],” Gene Green said. “It turns out they didn’t have to report them because the workers were contractors. It seemed like the whole thing was being swept under the rug,” he added.

Green has introduced legislation that would require employers to report contract workers’ injuries the same way they report their own employees’ injuries. Under H.R. 141, all deaths, injuries and illnesses among contracts workers would have to be reported to OSHA.

“The workers who were killed were in trailers that were too close to the isomerization unit, which is exactly the sort of thing OSHA should know about. By making employers report accidents, we’ll be able to keep all workers safer.” Green said.

Al Green will introduce additional legislation next week that would make employers criminally liable for willful safety standard violations resulting in the death of a contract employee working on their sites.

In a widespread energy industry practice, many workers are employed by contract firms rather than the companies at whose sites they work. In some cases these contract workers work side by side with the company’s employees for decades.

“Besides closing obvious loopholes, these bills will help resolve the injustice done to the workers who were killed,” Gene Green said. “It won’t bring anyone back, but we can avoid making the same mistakes in the future.”

WHAT: Press conference with Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas) and Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) on legislative response to the 2005 BP refinery explosion in Texas City, Texas

WHERE: United Steelworkers Hall

311 Pasadena Blvd.

Pasadena, TX 77506

WHEN: Monday, May 21, 2007, 10:30 a.m.

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