MOUNT VERNON, Wash. (AP) — The Washington Department of Labor and Industries says an April deadly explosion at the oil refinery in Anacortes could have been prevented.
It issued a record $2.39 million fine against Tesoro Corp.
The state says Tesoro failed to check for cracks in the 40-year-old equipment involved in an explosion that killed seven workers. The agency also says Tesoro disregarded workplace safety rules, postponed maintainance and failed to adequately protect its workers.
The agency is citing the company for 44 violations of state workplace safety and health regulations.
The refinery, located about 70 miles north of Seattle, is restarting operations Wednesday and expects to be at full capacity by Oct. 15.
