The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board began an investigation into a fatal release of hydrogen sulfide at the Pemex petroleum refinery in Deer Park, Texas, which occurred Oct. 10. Two contract workers died as a result of the release, and an additional 13 workers were transported to local medical facilities.
Reuters and other news outlets reported that the plant discharged 43,500 pounds of hydrogen sulfide gas over more than 7 hours.
CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said, “This is a very serious incident that caused multiple fatalities and injuries and potentially put the surrounding community at risk.”
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The release at the Pemex refinery, which is located about 18 miles east of Houston, also prompted a shelter-in-place order for two neighboring cities, and a portion of Texas State Highway 225 was closed temporarily.
ABC News 13 reported in early November a lawsuit has been filed on behalf of one of the workers who died, Jose Perez.
The 30-page lawsuit was filed in Harris County alleging Pemex, Shell USA, and PMI Services of North America were negligent.
“(The families) can’t get their loved ones back. What they want is changes so that this never happens again. This was an absolutely preventable event if folks would have followed procedure and safety rules,” Managing Partner at Abraham Watkins Law Firm, Benny Agosto Jr., said.
Reuters reported that for decades the Deer Park facility was operated by oil major Shell, but Pemex took full ownership of the refinery in early 2022, acquiring Shell’s 50% stake in what had been a long-standing joint venture.
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