Though Your Work in a Refinery Can be Risky, You Employer is Required to Keep Your Work Environment Safe and Well-maintained.

Texas has more oil refineries than any other state in the union.  Unfortunately this means that Texas refinery accidents have injured or killed thousands of refinery workers.

Though the nature of your job may be inherently risky, as an employee or contractor you have the right to work in an environment that is safe and well maintained.  This is the responsibility of the refinery- a responsibility they have not taken seriously, putting your life at risk.  Only a lawyer experienced in refinery accident litigation can determine the true value of your case.

If you have been injured in an oil refinery accident call attorneys Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris today.

Scope of the Problem

OSHA reports that the number of fatal refinery incidents is more than the combined total of the next three highest industries.  According to OSHA, from 1992-2007, 36 fatal refinery accidents were caused by a gaseous release.  52 employee deaths 250 injuries stemmed from the incidents.  It would stand to reason then, that every year an average of three people die and 16 are injured in the construction and maintenance of oil refineries.  However, these numbers are deceivingly low

Deception

In an attempt to make their plants seem safe, oil refineries hire as many contractors as possible.  When reporting injuries and deaths, they do not have to “claim” contractors as they are not employees of the petroleum companies. 

Refinery workers labeled as contractors often get the most dangerous jobs.  If you are a contract worker working at an oil refinery, you are at serious risk.  If you are injured or killed, you may to be brushed off by the refinery, leaving your family without the resources you need to get back on your feet.  Refineries are concerned about safety ratings and liability, not about the well-being of their labor force.  This is unacceptable.

What can you do?

If you have been injured or someone you love has been killed, you deserve to be heard.  Oil companies will work very hard to quiet your voice; they may offer a sum that seems fair and reasonable.  They may even try and sweep your case under the rug.  You do not deserve to be undervalued or ignored.

At SMSH we have over 100 years of combined experience.  Our team of attorneys completely understands the laws and regulations that govern the operation of oil refineries.  We have extensive knowledge of Chemical Safety Board (CSB) and OSHA regulations.  This knowledge is crucial when dealing with big oil companies.  Put your trust in a firm experienced enough to win the biggest cases. *link to case results*    

Winning your Case    

If you or someone you know has been injured or killed during a refinery or petrochemical accident, you need a law firm that knows how to win cases against oil industry giants.  Oil companies have vast resources and scores of lawyers on their side.  You deserve to have lawyers just as experienced and aggressive as theirs.  At Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, L.L.P we are dedicated to your cause and understand the complicated nature of the oil industry.  Only a law firm with serious experience can help you fight and win your case.  Please do not hesitate to call SMSH at 1-800-282-2122.  We have the serious experience to win your serious accident case.

The following is a list of oil refineries in Texas.  If you have been involved in an accident at an oil refinery in Texas or nationwide, please contact SMSH today.

Baytown Refinery, Big Spring Refinery, Beaumont Refinery, Borger Refinery, Corpus Christi Complex (Flint Hills Resources), Corpus Christi Refinery (Citgo), Corpus Christi West Refinery (Valero), Corpus Christi East Refinery (Valero), Deer Park Refinery, El Paso Refinery, Erickson Refining Corporation, Houston Refinery (Lyondell-Citgo), Houston Refinery (Valero), Independent Refining Corporation, McKee Refinery, Pasadena Refinery, Port Arthur Refinery (Total), Port Arthur Refinery (Motiva Enterprises), Port Arthur Refinery (Valero), San Antonio Refinery, Sweeny Refinery, Texas City Refinery (BP), Texas City Refinery (Marathon Petroleum Company), Texas City Refinery (Valero), Three Rivers Refinery, Tyler Refinery.

Blog for Texas Construction and Refinery Accidents

• Drop in Fatal Workplace Injuries in 2009 Due to Economy | Texas Work Injury Lawyers

  Description: Texas workplace accident attorneys see through the hype of new job injury statistics and let you know that a decrease in workplace deaths when the economy is so badly off doesn't mean much.

• Researchers Look at Ways to Reduce Workplace Injuries by Tackling Fatigue

  Description: Houston, Texas Personal Injury Lawyers discuss repetitive stress injury in the workplace and how measuring muscle fatigue can help combat Texas workplace injuries.

• Gas Well Worker Crushed to Death by Drilling Equipment | Texas Industrial Accident Attorneys

  Description: Large pirce of drilling equipment fell on a Trinidad Drilling gas well worker near the Kennedale border in Arlington, Texas, killing him.

• Massive Explosion at San Antonio, Texas AGE Refining Inc. Oil Refinery

  Description: At 11:30 this morning, a massive explosion took place at the AGE Refining Inc. oil and fuel refinery in San Antoion, Texas. A massive fire remains out of control in southeast San Antonio, resulting in evacuations and the strongest firefighting efforts. An 18-wheeler that was refueling at the 13,500-barrel-a-day plant owned by AGE Refining Inc. exploded. There were 100 employees at the plant working at the time of the Texas Refinery Explosion. At least one witness said he recalls a previous fire at this refinery about two years ago.

• OSHA Ready to Implement Stricter Enforcement, Injury Reporting Programs

  Description: A new OSHA announcement comes during a time of outrage over the West Virginia mine disaster. The agency has announced that it will soon implement a stricter enforcement program called the Severe Violator Enforcement Program. The program will include more aggressive enforcement, targeting employers who have a continuous and consistent record of workplace safety violations, placing workers at risk. It will also include hefty penalties for employers who continue to flout OSHA regulations.

• Crane Boom Crushes Port Arthur, Texas Motiva Refinery Contract Worker

  Description: A crane boom snapped and fell at 8:30 a.m. yesterday, crushing a man to death who was working on a $7 billion refinery expansion project in Port Arthur, Texas. The fatal accident occured at Motiva Enterprises LLC's refinery. Motiva Enterprises is a joint venture between Shell and Saudi Aramco. The unfortunate contractor has not yet been identified by local authorities, but it is know that he worked for BECON Construction, a subsidiary of Bechtel, the largest U.S. engineering company. The employee of Becon Construction Company, Inc. was working as part of the Bechtel-Jacobs joint venture constructing the Motiva expansion. Texas continues to lead the nation in workplace fatalities. In 2008, Texas suffered 457 workplace deaths among 5,071 nationwide. In 2007, Texas had 528 workplace deaths of 5,657 nationwide. Schechter, McElwee, Shaffer & Harris, LLP has over 45 years of experience handling multi-party Texas Refinery Accident and Death Claims. We are here to help hard-working men and women and their families obtain the best result possible considering tragic circumstances. For assistance with a case or for help with a legal question, email us today at info@smslegal.com.

• Construction Safety Summit in Houston Stresses on Worker Education, Empowerment

  Description: Houston played host to a Latino worker health and safety summit today. The National Action Summit for Latino Worker Health and Safety came at an especially poignant time, barely a few days after it was confirmed that 29 miners had died in a mine explosion in West Virginia. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis, who addressed the summit, spoke of enhancing worker education and awareness as a means of preventing workplace injuries and fatalities.

• Hopes Fade for Rescue of Four Missing Miners in West Virginia

  Description: Rescue teams are just a couple of hours away from entering the section of the mine in West Virginia where four men, still on the missing list, were believed to have been during the massive mine explosion on Monday. There isn't much hope of finding them alive, but for the family members of these miners, it's time for some closure. The Texas work accident lawyers at Schechter McElwee Shaffer & Harris represent injured workers, including construction workers, oil and gas refinery workers, miners and employees in several other industries in the Houston area, and around the state of Texas.

• OSHA Fines Gulf Chemical for Industrial Safety Violations

  Description: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined Freeport- based Gulf Chemical and Metallurgy Company $50,400 in fines after inspections revealed numerous industrial safety violations. According to OSHA, it conducted inspections of the facility in October, and found 16 serious violations. These violations are those that can contribute to injury or death. The violations included failure to train workers to handle hazardous materials, failure to provide adequate protection from airborne hazards and failure to protect workers from electrical hazards.

• Workers Commemorate Anniversary of Deadly BP Refinery Explosion in Texas City

  Description: Yesterday marked the first anniversary of the BP refinery explosion in Texas City that killed 15 workers and left more than 180 workers injured. Obviously, it's an extremely poignant moment not just for the families of those who were killed and those injured, but also for those of us who represented the victims as Houston refinery explosion lawyers in the litigation that followed. The-Houston refinery explosion lawyers at Schechter McElwee Shaffer and Harris represent victims of oil refinery explosions around the state of Texas.

• Protecting America's Workers Act Will Increase Penalties for Workplace Safety Violations

  Description: This week, a congressional subcommittee heard how the Protecting America's Workers Act can strengthen OSHA's efforts at increasing workplace safety. The US House Of Representatives Education and Labor Committee's Subcommittee heard from witnesses who said that the Act would add more bite to OSHA laws. The Act would increase penalties for safety violations, and increase whistleblower protections. It will also enhance enforcement of OSHA's laws, contributing to fewer accidents and a safe workplace.

• OSHA Teaming up with Scaffolding Group to Increase Safety

  Description: It was the death of three workers in a scaffolding accident in Austin, in Texas last year that increased national attention on scaffolding safety issues. With all the strides made in construction safety and all the technological aids at our disposal, scaffolding accidents remain among the most common construction site accidents. Finally, it seems that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration is looking harder at this problem. OSHA is partnering with the Scaffold Industry Association to train construction workers about safe materials for scaffolding and safe assembly. For more information about these developments or to contact a Houston, Texas Construction Accident Lawyer TODAY, email SMSH at info@smslegal.com.

• BP Facing up to $3 Million in Fines in Ohio Refinery Explosion

  Description: Just months after BP was slapped with a $87.4 million fine for its failure to fix serious safety issues at its Texas City refinery, the oil giant is looking at up to $3 million in fines for violations at its Toledo, Ohio refinery. OSHA has announced that it has found dozens of violations at the Ohio refinery. For more information on your Refinery Explosion issues, please contact us through our web contact form or email us at info@smslegal.com. Someone will receive your email today.

• Practice of Misclassification Places Workers at Risk

  Description: Texas work injury attorneys have always been aware of the practice of misclassifying employees as independent contractors to save on costs. However, as the Associated Press is reporting, such unscrupulous practices have become even more popular in a recession. The Texas work injury lawyers at SMSH represent injured victims of refinery explosions, chemical exposure, toxic gas leaks, construction accidents and other industrial accidents around the state of Texas.

• Despite OSHA Regulations, Scaffolding Safety Continues to be Elusive

  Description: For workplace accident lawyers in Texas, it continues to be frustrating that we see workers injured in accidents that shouldn't even be occurring, let alone seriously harming workers. Yet another scaffolding-related construction accident in Texas has left two workers seriously injured. If we sound furious at this totally preventable accident and the fact that these two men have been severely injured because of an employer's callousness, it's because we totally are. As construction accident lawyers in Texas, we hope the Occupational Safety and Health Administration decides to make an example of this case. Contact us at info@smslegal.com for assistance with any questions about your case.

• Worker Dies in Fall at Houston, Texas refinery

  Description: A worker died Friday morning at LyondellBasell Industries' Houston, Texas oil refinery after a steep fall. The Lyondell employee's name was being witheld pending notification of family members. For assistance with your claims related to a Texas Refinery Accident, please contact SMSH for a free evaluation of your case at (800) 282-2122 or e-mail us at info@smslegal.com

• Four Construction Contractors Cited in Austin, Texas Scaffolding Accident

  Description: Four contractors have been cited for safety violations that resulted in a scaffolding accident at an apartment building construction site in Austin this year. The Texas construction accident lawyers at SMSH represent injured construction workers and families of workers killed in such accidents around the state of Texas.

• Plant Explosion in Seabrook, Texas Injures Two Workers

  Description: An early morning explosion at the American Acryl plant in Seabrook injured two workers, and caused great anxiety in the local community. Witnesses said there was a large fireball accompanied by massive blast. The plant where the exposition occurred handles toluene, which is a petroleum-based compound. Exposure to toluene even in small doses can cause fatigue, memory loss and weakness.

• OSHA Refinery Sweep Shows Why Explosions and Accidents are so Frequent
• BP Fined $87 Million for Violations in Texas City Refinery Explosion

Arthur L. Schechter, Matthew D. Shaffer and Jonathan S. Harris are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization.

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