In a move even more notable because of its unusual choice of recipient, the European Process Safety Centre (EPSC) awarded its prestigious 2010 honors to the U.S. Chemical Safety Board for its safety video series. The award is given to acknowledge “progress toward a less-hazardous Europe” and is made to an individual or team which “has considerably advanced the theory or practice of process safety.” In selecting the CSB, the 2010 award marks the first time EPSC has given the award to an American entity and only the second to an organization or individual outside of Europe.

CSB Chairman John Bresland said, “The CSB is pleased and honored to be the recipient of this coveted award in recognition of our safety video program. We are proud of the videos and the fact that they are used to promote chemical process safety around the world. We are doubly honored to know we are the first organization in the United States to receive the EPSC award.”

The EPSC was founded by the European Federation of Chemical Engineering and has a membership that includes chemical companies, manufacturers, contractors, consultants and academic institutions representing a significant part of the process safety community in Europe.

CSB’s videos provide in-depth examinations of major chemical accidents investigated by the federal agency. They include computer animations that depict the chain of events leading to explosions, fires, leaks, loss of life, and serious injury. They typically include commentary by agency investigators, board members, outside experts, accident victims and eyewitnesses.

Dr. Daniel Horowitz, the director of congressional, public and board affairs for the CSB, oversees the production of the videos. He will accept the award during a presentation in Bruges, Belgium, in June.

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