OSHA decreases fines against Williams Olefins

(AP) — Federal regulators have decreased fines assessed against Williams Olefins over a June 2013 explosion at its plant in Ascension and Iberville parishes that killed two and injured more than 100 people.
The Advocate reports the reductions are part of a settlement between the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Williams that ended a challenge of six violations and related fines against the Tulsa, Oklahoma, company.
Among several changes brought by the settlement, OSHA agreed to reduce the most significant charge from a “willful” violation to a “serious” one.
The change from willful to serious violation also came with a reduction in Williams’ fine. As a result, the settlement says Williams’ combined the fines for the deadly explosion fell from $99,000 to $36,000.