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June 8, 2010

Internal BP Probes: Neglect Could Lead to Accidents
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The investigative news organization Pro Publica is reporting a series of
internal BP investigations over the past decade warned senior BP
managers that the oil company repeatedly disregarded safety and
environmental rules and risked a serious accident if it did not change
its ways. The reports described instances in which management flouted
safety by neglecting aging equipment, pressured employees not to report
problems and cut short or delayed inspections to reduce production
costs. A 2001 internal report noted that BP had neglected key equipment
needed for an emergency shutdown, including safety shutoff valves and
gas and fire detectors similar to those that could have helped prevent
the fire and explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf.