A Houston man, who was a worker at a Valero refinery in Louisiana, has died after an accident at the refinery. The man was apparently a contract worker at Valero Energy Corp.’s refinery in southeastern Louisiana.
According to fire personnel who responded to the scene of the accident, the two contract employees were working on a construction project when they suffered exposure to a toxic chemical. The two workers were working inside a cracking unit, which was shut at the time of the accident. The victim suffered a head injury which proved fatal. However, it is unclear at this point in time whether the head injury occurred because he fell off a ladder or from the chemical exposure.
He was taken to the hospital and released after treatment. Authorities have confirmed that no chemical vapors exited the plant. At least one other worker was also injured during the exposure.
Workers in a refinery or any other workplace can be exposed to a number of chemicals, including benzene and carbon monoxide. Workers in oil refineries may be at a special risk of exposure to toxic chemicals because of the use of deadly chemicals during the refinement process. Some of the chemicals that are used to refine oil include sulfuric acid. Exposure to such acids usually occurs through the skin, and the chemicals are toxic enough to cause serious skin burns.
Besides, refineries are also home to sulfur dioxide, which has dangerous effects on human health. Chlorine gas and hydrofluoric acid are also commonly found at refineries. There are restrictions placed on workers’ exposure levels to these chemicals, but in spite of this, accidents continue to occur, often resulting in devastating injuries and deaths.
Vuk Vujasinovic is a Houston work injury lawyer , representing victims of industrial and workplace accidents in Houston, across Texas and nationwide.
Vuk Vujasinovic is a Board Certified Houston personal injury attorney who practices Houston auto accident and other personal injury cases.
For more info on how Vuk can help you with your potential case please call him at (877) 724-7800 or fill out the contact form on the right.
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