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| Refinery-blast report savages BP | Refinery-blast report savages BP |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A US report has found "material deficiencies" in BP's safety procedures at its American oil refineries. | A US report has found "material deficiencies" in BP's safety procedures at its American oil refineries. |
| Led by former US Secretary of State James A Baker, the panel probed a 2005 explosion at BP's Texas City refinery, that killed 15 people and injured 180. | Led by former US Secretary of State James A Baker, the panel probed a 2005 explosion at BP's Texas City refinery, that killed 15 people and injured 180. |
| BP said it would implement the report's recommendations, adding it had taken significant steps to improve safety. | BP said it would implement the report's recommendations, adding it had taken significant steps to improve safety. |
| BBC business editor Robert Peston called the report very meticulous and extremely savage. | BBC business editor Robert Peston called the report very meticulous and extremely savage. |
| He went on to add that the panel's criticism against BP was very serious and went right to the top of the company. | He went on to add that the panel's criticism against BP was very serious and went right to the top of the company. |
| 'Mistakes' | 'Mistakes' |
| The report found that prior to the Texas City tragedy, BP emphasised personal safety but not process safety. | The report found that prior to the Texas City tragedy, BP emphasised personal safety but not process safety. |
| "BP mistakenly interpreted improving personal injury rates as an indication of acceptable process safety performance at its US refineries," said the report. | "BP mistakenly interpreted improving personal injury rates as an indication of acceptable process safety performance at its US refineries," said the report. |
| Yet speaking after the publication of the report, Mr Baker said that the panel "did not find any deliberate or conscious efforts on BP's part to short-circuit safety". | Yet speaking after the publication of the report, Mr Baker said that the panel "did not find any deliberate or conscious efforts on BP's part to short-circuit safety". |
| Former US Secretary of State James A Baker led the panel | Former US Secretary of State James A Baker led the panel |
| BP said it had already taken steps to improve its safety performance, including forming a senior executive team to oversee all aspects of operational safety. | BP said it had already taken steps to improve its safety performance, including forming a senior executive team to oversee all aspects of operational safety. |
| The oil giant also said it had increased spending on its refineries, and had earmarked $200m (£102m) to pay for safety audits and redesigns of its refinery operations. | The oil giant also said it had increased spending on its refineries, and had earmarked $200m (£102m) to pay for safety audits and redesigns of its refinery operations. |
| BP added that it had also appointed retired federal judge Stanley Sporkin to deal with and investigate concerns raised by staff or contract workers. | BP added that it had also appointed retired federal judge Stanley Sporkin to deal with and investigate concerns raised by staff or contract workers. |
| BP's outgoing chief executive, Lord Browne, said he thanked the panel members for "their insights and their recommendations". | BP's outgoing chief executive, Lord Browne, said he thanked the panel members for "their insights and their recommendations". |
| 'Candid assessment' | |
| "We asked for a candid assessment from this diverse group of experts and they delivered one," he added. | "We asked for a candid assessment from this diverse group of experts and they delivered one," he added. |
| BP announced on Friday last week that Lord Browne would now be standing down in July this year, 18 months earlier than initially announced. | |
| The move came just four days before the publication of the US report. | |
| Lord Browne is being replaced by BP's current head of exploration and production, Tony Hayward. |