Oil Refineries
Refining oil is a dangerous line of work involving
volatile chemicals under high pressure at searing
temperatures. When properly maintained, an oil refinery
is generally a safe place for workers and nearby
residents. However, some oil companies, either by
negligence or cost-cutting measures, operate facilities
that are not safe environments for an already dangerous
business. The dangers are myriad: falls, explosions,
burns, toxic chemical exposures are just a few of
the common personal injuries caused by oil companies
who put lives at risk.
Consider some of these facts (from RefineryForum.org):
- For years, a vast majority of the nation's refineries
have evaded regulatory scrutiny, including compliance
with basic provisions of the Clean Air Act.
- Many refineries are concentrated in heavily populated
urban areas and disproportionately impact low-income
and minority communities.
- Refineries are the nation's major source of tons
of toxic volatile organic compounds, like cancer-causing
benzene, and chemicals which cause asthma and childhood
development problems.
- Most refinery toxic air pollution is from product
leaks in equipment not smokestacks. Technology
to prevent these leaks has been widely available
for decades, but oil companies refuse to invest
in cleaner technologies.
- Refineries are also a source of large chemical
releases during fires, explosions, upsets and spills.
During these accidents, many thousands of pounds
of dangerous chemicals can be released in a short
period of time. These dangerous spills often dump
chemicals into the communities around refineries
causing health problems.
If you or a member of your family has been injured
in an accident or chemical exposure at an oil refinery,
offshore oil rig, or other oil industry location,
you may be eligible for recovery of damages.
If you believe you may have an oil refinery injury
case, contact us today for more information.
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