Mitigating the Next Disaster: Strengthening the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

Abstract

Abstract This article draws attention to an agency overlooked by the legal community: the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), which investigates industrial chemical accidents and provides recommendations to reduce the risk of future accidents. The CSB was harmed by an internal scandal in 2014 and the Trump Administration more recently, but the CSB has an essential role in preventing chemical disasters. Its work is crucial, especially because climate change has increased the frequency of technological disasters caused by natural disasters (natechs), such as the Arkema plant explosion following Hurricane Harvey. This article assesses the CSB, compares its structure with like agencies in other countries, and argues that strengthening the CSB is essential to mitigating future chemical and natech disasters.