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Steve Kherkher - March 20, 2023
The oil refining industry in the United States is growing. In regions like the Texas Gulf Coast, oil refineries are a major source of employment. Exxon alone employs well over 2,000 people in the Gulf Coast area. The upcoming expansion of their Beaumont refinery could significantly increase that number.
Unfortunately, as oil refineries expand and more workers are employed, the greater the risk of serious injuries or deaths. Workers in the oil refining industry are seven times more likely to suffer a fatal injury on the job than workers in other professions. Companies like Exxon are tasked with following federal and state safety guidelines in order to prevent injuries and deaths. Sadly, leaders in the petrochemical industry often fail to take necessary steps that save lives.
If you have been injured in an oil refinery incident, Kherkher Garcia, LLP is here to help. Our petrochemical injury lawyers have more than 30 years experience helping clients just like you. We have recovered billions of dollars on behalf of victims – our clients. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.
Exxon’s massive refinery expansion in Beaumont provides an excellent opportunity to discuss the hazards that accompany working in the oil refining industry. Exxon operates one of the largest petrochemical complexes along the U.S. Gulf Coast.
Currently, the Beaumont refinery produces around 380,000 barrels of fuel per day. The $2 billion expansion will add the capacity for an additional 250,000 barrels. To complete the expansion, Exxon has hired more than 1,700 contractors and 50 additional full-time employees. They have not disclosed how many additional job opportunities may be available. Upon completion, the refinery complex will be among the largest in the U.S.
Oil refining complexes occupy hundreds of acres with concrete and metal structures and miles of piping and machinery. Owners and managers must properly maintain these massive complexes, and employees must receive proper training, in order to operate safely.
It is important for oil refineries to have robust safety protocols in place to prevent accidents and mitigate their consequences. Unfortunately, petrochemical companies have a poor reputation for maintaining safety guidelines and regulations. Even some of the most disastrous and notable incidents in recent years could have been prevented by following safety regulations.
Oil refinery accidents occur for many reasons including equipment failure, human error, and natural disasters. The vast majority of accidents causing injury or death are preventable if owners and employers adhere to safety regulations and ensure a safe work environment.
Some of the most common causes of accidents in oil refineries include:
Oil refinery owners and managers are responsible for maintaining a safe work environment. Additionally, most refineries have employees whose sole purpose is to investigate and mitigate potential hazards, defects, or other dangers. When owners, managers, or others are negligent in upholding their duties, serious injuries can, and do, occur.
There are many hazards when working in the oil refining industry. Some hazards are unique given the work environment, and others are common in almost any industry. Many of the hazards in oil refining are due to the process of refining, which involves dangerous purification, toxic chemicals, exposure to heat, and working around machinery.
For crude oil to break down, it must go through a refining process that involves chemicals and extreme heat. As the crude oil breaks down, gases then release, which are toxic to humans. Workers in or near this process should be outfitted with PPE which protects them from exposure to toxic chemicals, such as:
Unfortunately, sometimes workers do not have adequate PPE, or do not receive proper training in how to mitigate the risk of exposure to chemicals. As a result, they face the risk of respiratory illness and other injuries due to breathing in toxic gases.
In order for crude oil to be useful, the molecule must separate from the base. To do this, the crude oil is heated to nearly 900 degrees in a Coker unit. During this process, hot oil can splash causing direct burns. Splashes or leaks can also cause local fires.
There are numerous fire and explosion hazards in oil refining that put workers at risk, including:
Fires and explosions can cause external and internal burns, organ damage, and death.
Oil refining complexes include large structures with scaffolding, catwalks, ladders, and pipes. Combine these elements with varying weather conditions, wear-and-tear, fatigue, and other factors, and falls are a serious hazard. In fact, OSHA suggests that falls are one of the leading causes of serious injuries or death. Some of the contributors to fall accidents at oil refineries include:
OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) each have requirements and guidelines for preventing falls in the workplace, including, more specifically, the oil and gas industry.
Explosions are one of the most common and deadly incidents in the oil refining industry. In the U.S., there are 141 oil refineries. Since 1994, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported at least 500 refinery incidents. Many of these incidents caused catastrophic damage, hundreds of injuries, and loss of life.
What makes explosions at oil refineries even more devastating is the fact that many are preventable. For example, an OSHA investigation into an explosion at the Kleen Energy Systems plant in Connecticut revealed more than 400 safety violations. OSHA has also reported explosions due to malfunctioning or improperly maintained equipment.
In 2005, a BP refinery in Texas City exploded killing 16 workers and injuring 180. This explosion was due to flooding of a distillation tower with hydrocarbons. The over pressurization caused a geyser-like release of fluid from the vent stack.
Machine hazards in the oil and gas industry refer to the risks posed by the use of heavy equipment and machinery involved in exploration, drilling, and production operations. In oil refineries, these hazards include equipment failure, fires, explosions, and exposure to harmful chemicals and materials.
Workers in oil refineries are at risk of injury or death from accidents involving:
Proper training, maintenance, and use of PPE are essential to mitigate these risks and protect workers. Additionally, advances in automation and robotics technology may offer new ways to improve safety and reduce the risk of accidents.
According to OSHA, three out of five fatalities in the oil and gas industry are related to a worker being struck-by, caught-in, or caught-between hazards. Some of the most common hazards include being struck by, or caught in/between:
OSHA and NIOSH provide guidance for the oil and gas industry on how to mitigate the risk of these catastrophic – often fatal – injuries. Sadly, they still occur at an alarming rate.
While research is unclear on the exact association between proximity to oil refineries and cancer rates, researchers do believe that individuals working in, or living near, oil refineries may be at an increased risk of developing certain types of cancers.
A study published in JNCI Cancer Spectrum in 2020 revealed that individuals living within 30 miles of an oil refinery had higher rates of cancers including:
Workers in oil refineries are at a higher risk of cancer due to direct exposure and long-term exposure to toxic chemicals and air pollutants. Similarly, those living within a close proximity to an oil refinery also appear to have a higher risk due to air pollutants.
Oil refinery accidents and resulting injuries and deaths can be prevented through various measures that focus on reducing the risks associated with refinery operations. Some of the ways to prevent oil refinery accidents include:
By implementing these measures and continuously improving safety practices, oil refinery accidents can be prevented, reducing the risk of harm to workers, communities, and the environment.
Determining liability for oil refinery injuries can be complex and depends on the specific circumstances of each case. Liability can fall on different parties, including the refinery owner, contractors, equipment manufacturers, and individual employees.
In many cases, multiple parties can be liable for oil refinery injuries, and determining liability can require an investigation into the root cause of the accident.
It is important for workers who have oil refinery injuries to seek legal representation to help determine liability and pursue compensation for their injuries, medical expenses, lost wages, and other damages.
Claims involving oil refineries are often complex, but they are never impossible. With the right combination of skill, resources, and experience, a compelling and successful case is highly possible.
At Kherkher Garcia, we understand what it takes to gather evidence, evaluate the strength of the claim, and build a case to pursue compensation for our clients. For every injury case, we take the following steps:
If you are injured due to an oil refining accident, there are three important things you should do:
The aftermath of an oil refinery accident can be confusing, painful, and overwhelming. But by taking these three steps as soon as possible, you are taking the first steps toward protecting yourself and your legal rights.
If you are injured as a result of an oil refinery accident, you may be entitled to compensation. At Kherkher Garcia, we have helped numerous clients battling oil refinery injuries with outstanding results. In fact, we recovered $60 million on behalf of dozens of workers who were injured in a refinery explosion.
Trust our skill and results with your oil refinery injury case. To learn more about our services and how we can help you, call us at 713-333-1030 to start your FREE consultation.
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This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorneys Steve Kherkher and Jesus Garcia Jr., who have more than 50 years of combined legal experience championing the rights of those who have experienced catastrophic injury due to negligence.
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