"Federal safety authorities in the US are imposing a record fine of $87m (£52m) on BP for failing to fix hazards at its Texas City oil refinery after an explosion at the industrial complex killed 15 people in 2005.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will announced the penalty later today. It is more than four times the size of any p r e v i o u s financial penalty levied by the authority, which is part of the US department of labour.

Officials in the US say BP has failed to fulfil commitments to reduce risk to workers and fix technical issues - including faults in pressure-relief systems. The company had agreed to a series of measures in a p r e v i o u s $21.3m settlement with the OSHA and had committed itself to an independent safety audit.

The Obama administration's labour secretary, Hilda Solis, is scheduled to speak about BP later today."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/oct/30/bp-texas-city-safety-fine