Worker Killed in Valero Refinery Accident in Tennessee

Worker Killed in Valero Refinery Accident in Tennessee

Oil_Field_AccidentAccording to state officials, an oil refinery worker exposed to propane and acid at a Valero plant in Memphis, Tennessee succumbed to his injuries and died earlier this month. Firefighters arrived on the scene of the oil refinery accident and found two workers injured by a ruptured sight glass on a pump unit, which exposed them to a dangerous mixture of propane and hydrofluoric acid, reported Memphis Fire Department spokesman Wayne Cooke. One of the Valero workers died at the hospital, according to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the other worker, who was a contractor, was transported to an area hospital in non-critical condition. If you have suffered injuries in an on-the-job accident in Tennessee, contact our experienced attorneys at Michael D. Ponce & Associates to discuss your legal options.

Oil Refinery Cited for Safety Violations

A sight glass is a transparent tube or window that allows workers to monitor fluid levels within a pump, pipe, tank or boiler. The Tennessee worker killed in the recent on-the-job accident was the second Valero employee to die this year from a workplace injury. Another man was killed in a March fire at the refinery, which has been cited for various violations related to the safe handling and control of hazardous chemicals and energy, officials have reported. The pump involved in the fatal accident was located at the plant’s alkylation unit, Valero Energy Corp., and two firefighters were also exposed to the dangerous substance in the workplace accident. According to the company, there was no fire or explosion, and the refinery has notified regulatory agencies about the accident, which is under investigation.

Contact Our Experienced Attorneys for Legal Help

Earlier this year, three contract workers suffered severe burns in a fire at the Valero plant, and one died from his injuries. A relative of the deceased worker filed a multimillion-dollar wrongful death and injury lawsuit against Valero in April, a month after the fatal accident occurred. The complaint alleges that the company failed to ensure that there were no flammable or hazardous gases in a flare line, and that there was a failure to provide timely firefighting assistance. After the fire, an inspection was conducted by the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the company was cited for nine serious violations and fined $63,000. If you have been seriously injured in a workplace accident in Nashville, or elsewhere in Tennessee, contact our knowledgeable lawyers at Michael D. Ponce & Associates for legal help. You may be entitled to compensation for your on-the-job injuries, which you can pursue by filing a workers’ compensation or personal injury claim against the at-fault party.

RELATED ARTICLES

Construction Accidents in Nashville
Nashville construction is booming. That’s great for Nashville construction workers who will be busy for months, even years to come. It’s also great for our economy. New construction often means...
FBI Considering Criminal Charges Following Tennessee Meningitis Outbreak
When drug manufacturers fail to ensure their drugs are safe, they may face criminal and civil penalties. This may be the case for the New England Compounding Center (NECC)—the Massachusetts...
Injured in a Crash while Driving for Work? You May Have 2 Claims on Your Hands.
Most people know that when they get hurt while they’re on the job, they may be eligible to receive workers’ compensation benefits to replace their paychecks while they recover. And...
OUR REVIEWS
I recently called Ponce Law to ask if they could handle a case I have. When speaking to the receptionist she was very polite, I can say it has been the best customer service I have ever received, unfortunately my case wasn’t a case they handle but that didn’t stop them from helping me they gave me a few numbers wher...
- Francisco Chavez
Working with Ponce Law was a complete game-changer for me. After a distressing encounter with another law firm, I was recommended to reach out to Ponce Law by a friend. From the moment I connected with Lilly, I knew I was in good hands. Throughout a difficult period marked by the loss of my stepmother, Lilly and th...
- Sara Nall
My wife was in a car accident. A young driver hit her from behind and knocked her into the car in front of her. The situation got tricky right away. Neither of us knew how to navigate this kind of situation. That is where Cheyenne with Ponce Law came into the picture. Cheyenne put us at ease and handled everything a...
- Lindsey Martone
FREE CASE REVIEW