Hungary fines MOL Petrochemicals over safety lapses linked to deadly plant explosion

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungarian authorities on Tuesday fined the MOL Petrochemicals company over safety lapses linked to an explosion at a chemical plant in May that killed one worker and injured several.

The company, a subsidiary of the energy MOL Group, was ordered by Hungary's occupational safety authority following an investigation to pay 38 million forints ($120,000) for failing to ensure proper safety procedures at the plant in Tiszaújváros, in eastern Hungary.

No official charges had been leveled against MOL Petrochemicals.

The blast occurred during a post-maintenance restart of the facility’s Olefin-1 unit, which processes various hydrocarbons used to produce raw materials for the plastics industry. In addition to the death, four workers were seriously injured and seven others sustained minor injuries.

Hungary's Ministry of Social and Family Affairs told news outlet Borsod Online that the parts of the plant affected by the explosion had lacked adequate safety equipment to detect and signal dangerous conditions and, if necessary, allow operations to be safely shut down.

Authorities also instructed MOL Petrochemicals to review the plant’s safety systems and carry out regular maintenance on pipelines and other equipment.