BP pays record fine of $50.6 million for deadly explosion

The oil
giant paid a then-record $21 million fine after the explosion five years ago,
while also agreeing to improve safety conditions.

BP fell
short of that agreement when inspected last year by the Labor Department’s
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, leading to the second
fine. 

In October
2009, OSHA announced $87.4 million in penalties against BP after an inspection
of the Texas City plant earlier last year. 

During last
year’s investigation at the Texas City refinery, OSHA found 439 new willful
violations and assessed more than $30 million in penalties. 

“Safer
conditions at this refinery should result from this arrangement, which goes far
beyond what can normally be achieved through abatement of problems identified
in citations,” said David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for
OSHA.