Title: Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Kleen Energy Systems natural gas explosion.
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
This resolution honors the memories of the workers killed in the Kleen Energy Systems natural gas explosion in Middletown, Connecticut, in 2010.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 838 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 838

Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Kleen Energy Systems natural 
                             gas explosion.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            February 7, 2020

Mr. Courtney (for himself, Ms. DeLauro, Mr. Larson of Connecticut, Mr. 
 Himes, and Mrs. Hayes) submitted the following resolution; which was 
            referred to the Committee on Education and Labor

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Kleen Energy Systems natural 
                             gas explosion.

Whereas, on February 7, 2010, six workers died and dozens were injured in an 
        explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems power station construction site in 
        Middletown, Connecticut, when natural gas that had pooled on the ground 
        caught fire;
Whereas Peter C. Chepulis, Ronald J. Crabb, Raymond E. Dobratz, Kenneth W. 
        Haskell, Jr., Roy D. Rushton, and Vance C. Walters tragically lost their 
        lives as a result of this preventable catastrophe;
Whereas the Occupational Safety and Health Administration found ``willful'' 
        violations of safety protocol that led to the explosion;
Whereas fines assessed as a result of these violations were miniscule compared 
        to the lives lost and the public resources required to rescue the 
        injured, investigate the causes, and clean up the damage;
Whereas the statutory fines under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 
        are woefully out of date due to Congress' failure to modernize the law 
        since its passage;
Whereas each day an average of 14 workers are killed due to workplace injuries 
        in the United States; and
Whereas tens of thousands of Americans with workplace injuries and illness have 
        become permanently disabled: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the memories of the workers killed in the Kleen 
        Energy Systems natural gas explosion on February 7, 2010;
            (2) expresses its deepest sympathy to the families of the 
        victims and those whose lives have been irreparably changed as 
        a result of this disaster; and
            (3) recognizes--
                    (A) the risks that workers face on the job; and
                    (B) the need to strengthen and modernize the 
                Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to better--
                            (i) prevent deadly disasters;
                            (ii) protect workers from occupational 
                        injury, illness, and retaliation; and
                            (iii) hold employers accountable for 
                        violations of safety laws.
                                 <all>