More than two years after the fire and resulting explosion at the West Fertilizer Company the U.S. Chemical Safety Board has issued its concluding report and safety recommendations.

The fire was responsible for the deaths of 12 emergency responders, three individuals and millions of dollars worth of damage.  The Agricultural Retailers Association is appreciative of the extensive investigations and resulting report done by the CSB.

“Agricultural retailers remain committed to the safety and security of their employees and the communities where they operate,” said Daren Coppock, ARA President and CEO. “Since the accident, ARA has worked closely with the CSB and other key federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration, to determine the cause of the detonation and take prudent steps to prevent future accidents.”

The ARA supports a number of the policy recommendations offered by federal agencies such as the EPA and OSHA, but disagrees with others that contain unsubstantiated conclusions or are inappropriate for ag retail facilities.  You can read more about the CSB’s recommendations here.

In response to this tragic event The Fertilizer Institute founded ResponsibleAg.  This independent, nonprofit organization was reared to aid agribusinesses regarding safe handling and storage of fertilizer products.  ResponsibleAg hopes to improve safety and security regarding storage and handling, support businesses in complying with federal regulations, demonstrate accountability an transparency and ensure the safety of employees, customers and the community.