U.S. Chemical Safety Board
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is an independent federal agency established in 1990 under the Clean Air Act Amendments that investigates root causes of major chemical incidents and issues safety recommendations to industry, regulators, and standards bodies. It has investigated nearly 180 incidents and issued over 1,000 recommendations across its 25-year history.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1990
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What U.S. Chemical Safety Board does
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) is an independent, nonregulatory federal agency established under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and headquartered at 470 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC. Its statutory mandate is to investigate the root causes of major chemical incidents — both physical causes such as equipment failure and systemic gaps in regulations, industry standards, and safety management systems — and to issue safety recommendations to prevent recurrence. The agency operates without citation or fine authority, making it a purely analytical and advisory body. Over its 25-year history the CSB has deployed to nearly 180 chemical incidents and issued more than 1,000 recommendations (123 open / 924 closed), targeting industry operators, government regulators (OSHA, EPA, ATF), and standards bodies (API, NFPA, CCPS, ASME, ANSI, CGA). Active caseload in 2025-2026 includes the Nippon Dynawave paper mill implosion (11 fatalities), Accurate Energetic Systems explosion (16 fatalities), Catalyst Refiners, U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, and others — totaling 36 fatalities across 9 active investigations in roughly 10.5 months per Chairperson Steve Owens.
The CSB's product set comprises final investigation reports with root-cause analysis, a recommendations tracking system with searchable status, safety videos distributed via YouTube and csb.gov (e.g., the Husky Energy Superior refinery animation with 240,000+ views and a 2020 Silver TELLY Award), an Accidental Release Reporting database, a Process Safety Training Application, quarterly public meetings, and advocacy products such as hurricane-season preparedness bulletins. The agency's economic model is direct Congressional appropriation rather than fee-for-service: $14 million was appropriated for FY 2026, a $400,000 reduction from prior years, and Congress rejected the Trump administration's recommendation to eliminate the agency. Leadership consists of Chairperson Steve Owens and Board Member Sylvia E. Johnson, Ph.D., both Presidential appointees confirmed by the Senate.
U.S. Chemical Safety Board firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- U.S. Chemical Safety Board
- Legal name
- U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
- Website
- https://csb.gov
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1990
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is an independent federal agency established in 1990 under the Clean Air Act Amendments that investigates root causes of major chemical incidents and issues safety recommendations to industry, regulators, and standards bodies. It has investigated nearly 180 incidents and issued over 1,000 recommendations across its 25-year history.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
U.S. Chemical Safety Board industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Federal Safety Investigation & Chemical Incident Oversight
- NAICS
- Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (926150)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Chemical Safety & Hazard Communication (Lab Safety, SDS, Chemical Inventory) (EDAEAKAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT), CBRN & Decontamination Response (HLAJAGAI)
Keywords
Where U.S. Chemical Safety Board is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
U.S. Chemical Safety Board business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
U.S. Chemical Safety Board product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is an independent, nonregulatory federal agency that investigates the root causes of major chemical incidents at industrial facilities across the United States. It deploys investigators to incident sites, produces detailed final reports with findings and root-cause analysis, and issues safety recommendations to companies, industry standards organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies. The CSB also produces educational safety videos and operates an accidental release reporting system for facilities. All services are provided free of charge.
Product overview
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) operates as an independent federal agency that conducts chemical incident investigations and drives safety improvements through recommendations. The CSB does not operate a traditional software product; rather, it provides investigative reports, safety recommendations, safety videos, and incident reporting services. The core portfolio includes: (1) Chemical Incident Investigation Reports with root cause analysis and preventive recommendations, (2) a Safety Recommendations System that tracks corrective actions from issuance to closure, (3) Safety Videos distributed via YouTube and the website, (4) an Accidental Release Reporting System for facilities to report chemical incidents, (5) Public Meetings and Town Halls for community engagement and report adoption, (6) an Incident Reporting Rule Form system for mandatory reporting, (7) a Recommendations Search Module for querying recommendations database, (8) Process Safety Training Applications, and (9) Advocacy Products including safety bulletins. All CSB investigations are conducted independently without regulatory authority to issue citations or fines.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Chemical Incident Investigation Reports
Companies that use U.S. Chemical Safety Board
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
U.S. Chemical Safety Board technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
U.S. Chemical Safety Board partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.
- American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)majorCSB issued recommendation to ASME to develop written guidelines for marking equipment for opening following the PEMEX Deer Park incident where workers mistakenly opened wrong pipe flange.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)coreCoordination on workplace safety investigations. The CSB makes safety recommendations to OSHA as a recipient of recommendations. OSHA conducts parallel investigations and issues citations for safety violations.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)coreCoordination on environmental safety investigations. The CSB issues recommendations to EPA on chemical safety matters, including hydrogen fluoride study updates and RMP facility oversight.
- Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS)majorCSB frequently issues recommendations to CCPS to update process safety guidelines. CCPS publishes industry guidance documents referenced in CSB recommendations for process safety management systems.
- American Petroleum Institute (API)majorCSB issues recommendations to API to develop technical publications for safe operation of refining processes, including FCC units and valve safety guidelines.
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)majorCSB recommends NFPA update safety codes related to cryogenic fluids, ammonia releases, and combustible dust hazards based on investigation findings.
- Compressed Gas Association (CGA)majorCSB issues recommendations to CGA to develop standards for safe storage and handling of cryogenic liquids and oxygen-deficient atmospheres following liquid nitrogen incident investigations.
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)coreCoordinated investigation with ATF following the Accurate Energetic Systems explosion in Tennessee where ATF led initial site control and debris analysis.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
U.S. Chemical Safety Board competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
U.S. Chemical Safety Board social profiles
Digital presenceU.S. Chemical Safety Board financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
U.S. Chemical Safety Board leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
U.S. Chemical Safety Board funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
U.S. Chemical Safety Board M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about U.S. Chemical Safety Board
What does U.S. Chemical Safety Board do?
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) is an independent, nonregulatory federal agency that investigates the root causes of major chemical incidents at industrial facilities across the United States. It deploys investigators to incident sites, produces detailed final reports with findings and root-cause analysis, and issues safety recommendations to companies, industry standards organizations, labor groups, and regulatory agencies. The CSB also produces educational safety videos and operates an accidental release reporting system for facilities. All services are provided free of charge.
Is U.S. Chemical Safety Board a public or private company?
U.S. Chemical Safety Board is a public company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was U.S. Chemical Safety Board founded?
U.S. Chemical Safety Board was founded in 1990. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is U.S. Chemical Safety Board based?
U.S. Chemical Safety Board is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
Does U.S. Chemical Safety Board have an API?
No public API is recorded for U.S. Chemical Safety Board.
What industry is U.S. Chemical Safety Board in?
U.S. Chemical Safety Board's product category is Federal Safety Investigation & Chemical Incident Oversight. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAEAKAH, Chemical Safety & Hazard Communication (Lab Safety, SDS, Chemical Inventory), with a secondary code of HLAJAGAI, Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT), CBRN & Decontamination Response. Its NAICS code is 926150 and its SIC code is 8731.