According to citations issued by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Exxon Mobil Corp's oil refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana exposed workers to possible fires and explosions among other safety violations.
Exxon Mobil's refinery reportedly produces more than 500,000 barrels of oil per day, and is the second largest in the United States. OSHA's latest inspection revealed 20 serious and two other-than-serious violations, which included failures to investigate incidents as related to process safety management, failure to repair equipment and failure to address inconsistent thickness measurements found in pressure vessel inspections.
While Exxon Mobil faces $126,000 in OSHA fines, it is could also pay much more for employee injury compensation and legal fees in related lawsuits.
Dangers of Oil Refineries
Working at oil refineries is inherently dangerous. According to OSHA, there are more fatal oil refinery incidents than the next three highest industries combined. Refinery incidents are to blame for 52 employee deaths and 250 injuries over a 15 year period. However, since employers are not required to include contractors as employees when reporting deaths, the actual totals may be even higher.
Employers have a duty to ensure that workplaces are safe for their employees. They also must act responsibly in protecting the environment and limit the exposure of toxins to the general public. Violations of OSHA regulations could be viewed as negligence in failing to adhere to these duties. After all, most refinery accidents are attributable to unabated safety issues, especially "process safety" concerns (equipment designs, hazard analysis and equipment maintenance).
As such, failing to correct safety hazards could lead to wrongful death lawsuits, negligence claims, workers' compensation claims, environmental lawsuits and criminal sanctions. Because of that, adhering to safety rules is critical.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an oil refinery accident consider contacting an experienced personal injury attorney. A knowledgeable lawyer can help answer your questions and advise you of potential claims.
