Oil & Gas Refineries

Long considered one of the most dangerous industries to work in, the oil and petrochemical refinery industry has seen several catastrophic explosions over the years.  The demand for oil has in many cases, unfortunately bred an assumption that profits have precedence over worker safety, with the result that in spite of continuing efforts by OSHA to enhance safety practices and worker safety systems, there continue to be refinery explosions that cause severe injures, including burns, amputations and head injuries, and death.

Preventing Refinery Explosions

To prevent refinery explosions, refineries are required to provide for the safe containment of flammable liquids, regularly inspect and correctly maintain pressurized tanks and containers that hold these liquids, and locate unprotected buildings away from hazardous areas. There are rules regarding the entry of non-related personnel into restricted areas where hazardous start up and shut down operations are underway. Workers are required to be trained in following all safety procedures to enable them to contribute to the prevention of refinery explosions. Employers are mandated to maintain proper instrumentation systems and alarm mechanisms to warn of dangerous situations.

Adequate staffing is required to make sure that working conditions at a refinery are safe for all. Inadequate staffing, procedures, controls, and response plans for avoiding and responding to refinery explosions endanger the safety and lives of people not just in the immediate vicinity of the explosion, but also the entire worker population at the refinery, and people in neighboring communities.

All too often, refinery explosions can be traced to the reluctance of management to invest in repairs and replacement of defective refinery equipment.  The BP refinery explosion in Texas in 2005 could be traced at least in part, to corroded pipes that burst, spewing flammable vapors into the air.  Alarm systems at the plant were also found to be malfunctioning.  These are examples of negligence on the part of refinery management where refinery worker safety is concerned. 

Sugar Refineries

Sugar refineries can contain large volumes of combustible dust, like sugar dust in the work environment.  According to OSHA regulations, facilities that include the presence of combustible dust must take proper precautions related to sufficient ventilation, worker training in dealing with hazardous materials, proper securing of hazardous locations, correct techniques for dust disposal, use of appropriate safeguards wherever combustible dust is present, and emergency response plans in the event of an explosion. Failure to comply with any of these provisions can lead to devastating accidents.