Last week "the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) released data on chemical incidents reported under the CSB’s “Accidental Release Reporting Rule” during the first quarter of fiscal year 2023 (October-December 2022). The data shows a significant uptick in reportable events during the quarter, as well as an extremely high number of serious events this past weekend which coincides with cold temperatures across the U.S.
From October 1, 2022, through December 26, 2022, 36 events were reported to the CSB, 8 of which occurred this past holiday weekend. This is more than double the number of events for the first three months of the previous two fiscal years – October-December of 2021 (16 events) and 2020 (14 events). Reportable events involve an accidental chemical release resulting in a fatality, serious injury, and/or substantial property damage..."