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- When Running People Past Their Breaking Point Effects Safety: The Bayer Crop Science Incid…
INCIDENT
Running People Past their Breaking Point: The Bayer Crop Science Incident
One element that figured prominently in the 2008 explosion at the Bayer Crop Science facility in Institute, West Virginia, was a lack of operator training for the new DCS that had just been installed at the methomyl production unit.
There were equipment problems to be sure, however the steps leading up to the explosion were more the result of bad decisions from operators. Some of the problems related to training, but operators were also reaching their breaking point due to overwork and stress. Larvin insecticide is a seasonal product so there are limited times during which it sells.
This led to major increases in the workload on the staff. Investigations after the incident showed that many operators and other people were working 60 to 70 hours per week prior to the startup.
