On October 20th, the widow of a man who died after being exposed to asbestos dust and fiber for years on the job filed suit against ExxonMobil and Mobil Oil, blaming the company for causing his death via exposure to these toxic materials (eventually developing and suffering from mesothelioma). The suit specifically alleges that the companies knew about the hazards and acted with gross neglect, but still chose to do nothing to protect employees.
Within the same week, an accident at the ExxonMobil refinery led to representatives calling for an examination of the company’s overall safety record. According to the company, the accident was caused by one of its coker units releasing an asphalt-like material into the air.
Are We Safe With These Oil Refineries In Our Cities?
Adding to a number of accidents this year, many are not only concerned that the company cannot operate its refineries safely, but that cities may be incapable of providing the appropriate emergency response to ensure people’s safety, should there be an accident at these facilities. The last time this same incident happened three years ago at the Chevron Refinery, the release of the flammable vapor led to a fire and a botched emergency response sent thousands of people to hospitals seeking treatment for injuries.
With the October incident, some residents claim that they were not informed about the chemical release accident until an hour and a half after it happened and they could barely hear the refiner’s warning sign even when it was alarmed. Some are now calling for City Council to shut the refinery down, especially since, just last month, the same facility leaked highly toxic hydrofluoric acid into the environment. Regulators have now responded that this particular chemical (hydrofluoric acid) may be entirely banned from local use.
Federal officials are also concerned that ExxonMobil refused to cooperate with investigations into the accident. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the company’s failure to fix equipment over the last 10 years led to an explosion in February of this year.
A History of Problems
The heavy-duty industrial equipment and materials associated with the production of oil has long been known to contain asbestos and other toxic chemicals. In 2005, ExxonMobil was sued for allegedly causing a former’s employee’s lung cancer and death. And in 2011, a ship repairmen was awarded $25 million from the company for damages he experienced related to mesothelioma and his 10 years working for the company. Others that can contract the condition from working on oil refineries include electricians, welders, pipe fitters, chemical workers, metal workers, insulators, engineers, etc.
Contact Our Attorneys
If you or a loved one has suffered from cancer or any other health issues as a result of being exposed to asbestos or other toxic chemicals at oil refineries, an attorney with Harrell & Nowak can help you seek compensation to address medical bills, loss of wages, and any pain and suffering you have experienced. Contact our office today to learn how you can bring an action to address your grievances.
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