There was a fire at the Marathon Petroleum Refinery in Garyville, Louisiana on August 25, 2023. According to reports, a fire broke out at the plant, resulting in an evacuation of all workers. The facility is located at 4663 W. Airline Highway. The chemical leak and fire is believed to have occurred at a storage tank at the plant. The cause of the fire is under investigation at this time.
The release involved napthta, a highly flammable partially refined petroleum. Exposure to the chemical can result in difficulty breathing, coughing/wheezing, headaches, dizziness, skin irritation, nausea and vomiting. According to the safety data sheet for the chemical, the following should be done if the chemical is inhaled:
Remove to fresh air. Aspiration into lungs can produce severe lung damage. If breathing has stopped, give artificial respiration. Get medical attention immediately. Avoid direct contact with skin. Use barrier to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If breathing is difficult,(trained personnel should) give oxygen. Get immediate medical advice/attention. Delayed pulmonary edema may occur.
This is yet another at a refinery that has reported numerous prior incidents. On February 21, 2022, six contractors were burned in an explosion at the refinery. Two workers were injured a fire at the refinery on October 5, 2022.
There have been a number of incidents at industrial and manufacturing plants. There was an explosion at a recycling facility in Houston, Texas on July 27, 2023. There was an explosion at a processing plant in Chandler, Arizona on July 31, 2023. There was an explosion at the Sherwin Williams Plant in Garland, Texas on August 7, 2023. There was an explosion at the Tennessee Gas Pipeline/Kinder Morgan facility in Hickman County, Tennessee on August 18, 2023. There was a fire at the American Plant Food Corporation fertilizer plant in Bartlett, Texas on August 20, 2023.
Refineries and industrial facilities can pose significant dangers both to workers and to the general public. When dangerous work is involved, extra precautions must be taken, especially when fires and explosions can occur. Equipment must be properly inspected and maintained to ensure that accidents do not occur and that hardworking Americans are not hurt.
Those touched by an industrial accident should know their legal rights and remedies, and act quickly to preserve them. Our attorneys have extensive experience in cases involving industrial and plant personal injury and wrongful death, including those caused by equipment malfunctioning. The firm has experience in courts across the country and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives or as a result of an explosion, or been seriously injured.
The experienced attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of an accident at a plant or refinery. Please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or to learn more about your legal rights.