Tragedies arising from the confluence of multiple low-probability events will never be entirely preventable. That said, given that the threat of fertilizer as an explosive – and ammonium nitrate in particular – has been in the public consciousness for decades now, the notion that a West Fertilizer Company plant could go 28 years between safety inspections is disconcerting. There are a variety of explanations and targets for blame, but the tragedy of the explosion in West, Tex., highlights two significant challenges facing modern regulators... (more)