Proforma Safety Blog

Fatality at Valero’s Texas City Refinery

Posted by proforma on December 8, 2009  |  No Comments

A worker was killed by “blunt force trauma” to the head at the Valero refinery in Texas City, Texas, on December 4, 2009, as he and two other workers allegedly were attempting to restart a boiler. The two other workers were injured in the blast. Valero has attributed the accident to a “failure” of the boiler. OSHA is investigating; the Chemical Safety Board has announced it will not open a formal investigation. Current details are available here.

Construction Worker at Refinery Killed by Falling Crane Ball

Posted by proforma on April 1, 2009  |  No Comments

On March 8, 2009, a contract employee died of head injuries sustained the previous day after being struck by a falling crane ball at a Port Arthur refinery construction site.

The contractor, McKinney Drilling, was installing drill shaft foundations, for which a 50-ton crane was being used. At some point, the crane ball fell, striking the employee on the head and left side of his body.

Pending investigation by OSHA and the company, workers should be reminded to remain aware at all times where they are in relation to equipment working around them. They should never become so comfortable with their surroundings or the work in progress that they drop their guard and expose themselves to danger.