Another month, another Baker report. December's report from the Iraq Study Group, co-chaired by James A. Baker III, former US secretary of state, has been largely ignored by America's president. But the management of BP, the oil giant, must not ignore yesterday's report from a panel chaired by Mr Baker into the safety and management of the company's US operations.
The independent panel was formed on the recommendation of a safety watchdog investigating the explosions at BP's Texas City refinery, which killed 15 workers and injured 500 more in March 2005. The panel looked at safety culture across BP Products North America, not just at Texas City, reflecting other accidents, including some at BP's Alaskan operations.
