Safety concerns at BP oil refinery

BP could be hit with fines of more than $3 million (£2 million) as a result of safety concerns at an oil refinery in the US.

The Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) began an inspection of the site near Toledo, Ohio in September of last year.

And it has proposed the penalties after identifying 42 alleged wilful violations and 20 alleged serious violations - with inadequate pressure relief for process units among the hazards to which workers are said to have been exposed.

Labour secretary Hilda Solis called on BP to take immediate action to remedy the problems.

"OSHA has found that BP often ignored or severely delayed fixing known hazards in its refineries," she remarked. "There is no excuse for taking chances with people's lives."

Ms Solis highlighted the importance of safety last month, following an explosion during construction of a power plant in Middletown, Connecticut that killed several workers.