CNN "CNN Newsroom" - Transcript

Interview

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REP. JANICE SCHAKOWSKY (D-IL): Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I wanted to focus on the mind set of BP when it comes to its workers. You said in your opening statement that you were personally devastated, you attended a memorial service for those men. It was a shattering moment. I want to offer my sincere condolences to their friends and families. I can only imagine their sorrow.

Probably not as devastated as the widows who testified before our committee. And I asked them, what about BP? What kind of contact have you had with BP since the incident -- Letters, phone calls, visits?

And Natalie Roshto said two BP men attended Shane's services. "They never extended a hand, a hug. Never extended a we're sorry, their condolences. The only words that came out of their mouth was where they were to be seated and I never saw them after that."

I asked what about you, Mrs. Kemp. "Two BP men came to Wyatt's services. and one extended his hand. I shook it. He told me he's very sorry for my loss. He asked if he could hug me. He did. The other gentleman extended his hand and told me who he was, and they sent two plants to the service and that's the extent of my conversations or any dealings with BP."

That's it. Do you feel that you owe something more to those women and to those -- just in terms of expressing something and more?

HAYWARD: As I said, I'm devastated by the accident, absolutely devastated and I feel great sorrow for the people who have been impacted by it.

SCHAKOWSKY: Well, they haven't heard anything --

HAYWARD: The people who were killed in the accident were not BP employees. They're employees of Transocean, another contractor and both of them made it very clear that they want to deelt with the families. We have provided support to both Transocean and --

SCHAKOWSKY: I guess I was talking to you as a human being.

HAYWARD: And we have made it clear that we will provide all and every need for the families.

SCHAKOWSKY: Let me ask another question. There were BP personnel on the rig, and we read that oil workers from the rig were held in seclusion on the open water for up to two days after the April 20 explosion while attorneys attempted to get them to sign legal documents stating that they were unharmed by the incident.

The men claimed they were forbidden from having contact with concerned loved ones during that time and were told they would not be able to go home until they signed the documents they were presented with. After being awake for 50 harrowing hours, Steven Davis caved in and signed the papers.

He said most of the others did as well. Do you think this is an appropriate way to treat people that experienced that and sincere executives, you had people on the rig, what was their feeling about that? What is your feeling about that?

HAYWARD: I think it's inappropriate, and it was nothing to do with BP. SCHAKOWSKY: I see. And BP had no comment on it and had no opportunity -- I mean, did the company know about it? Was there any --

HAYWARD: I don't believe we were aware it was taking place, but it was certainly nothing to do with BP.

SCHAKOWSKY: Well, I did mention during my opening statement this document that basically says such voluntary effort shall be at my own risk, that people were made to sign. And there were two court appearances that were needed to finally get BP to take responsibility.

But what I understand is that BP continued to fail to protect adequate protective gear to the fishermen. And on May 16, OSHA issued a detailed directive on the training requirement for specific task responders and stated that OSHA had officials monitoring the traing and observing the clean-up.

But according to testimony we heard in Louisiana, still BP failed to provide respirators to the workers exposed to the crude oil, and the workers experienced health impacts.

The workers were afraid to speak up due to the potential to lose their jobs. Those fishermen who attempted to wear respirators while working were threatened to be fired by BP due to the workers using the respirators. Do you want anything about that?

HAYWARD: I'm not aware of that. What we clearly are endeavoring to do is to ensure that anyone involved in the response is appropriately provided with whatever safety equipment is need.

SCHAKOWSKY: Endeavoring to provide? Are the workers currently provided with what they need?

HAYWARD: Absolutely. In every case we're trying to make certain that people to do put them --

SCHAKOWSKY: You're trying to make certain but is all the equipment there and are all these workers protected?

HAYWARD: To my knowledge, yes.

SCHAKOWSKY: Thank you. I yield back.

WAXMAN: Thank you. Next turn to Mr. Ross for question, please.

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