The Companies Whose Fertilizer Blew Up West Say West Should Share in the Blame

[TexasTowelie]

Photo: Francisco Antonio Ceron Garcia

In the year-plus since the West, Texas fertilizer plant explosion, the tragedy has made its way where to it was always destined: the courts. Around 200 plaintiffs, mostly people who had family members killed or property destroyed, have filed suits.

El Dorado Chemical Company and CF Industries are two fertilizer suppliers that have been hit with a barrage of lawsuits alleging their malfeasance, with victims arguing that the suppliers provided fertilizer chemicals that were unnecessarily dangerous. But the two companies are now fighting back.

In a recent motion, they argue that the city of West should be party to the lawsuits, since a state investigation has shown that the city failed to properly train its volunteer firefighters. They also claim that city safety standards failed to match other chemical plant regulations.

In a report from last May, the Texas State Fire Marshal's Office concluded that the explosion at the Bulk Processing Plant, which resulted in the deaths of 15 first responders, could have been prevented. The report highlighted a "lack of adherence" to national safety standards.

More at http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2014/07/fertilizer_companies_allege_explosion_deaths_could_have_been_avoided_if_west_had_better_safety_stand.php .

[font color=green]Privatize the profits, socialize the losses.[/font]

[Ilsa]

1. How reprehensible: blame the DEAD VOLUNTEERS.

Do these companies realize how sinister they sound?

[christx30]

2. I love this part:

They also claim that city safety standards failed to match other chemical plant regulations.

What good would more safety standards have done? You weren't following the ones that were already in place. Like driving 50 in a 30, then saying that the speed limit should be been 25.