Tenn. Refinery Worker Killed, One Hurt in Hazmat Incident

Dec. 4, 2012
One worker died and another was injured after an equipment failure released a hazardous chemical inside the Memphis Valero refinery Monday.

Dec. 04--One worker died and another was injured after an equipment failure released a hazardous chemical inside the Memphis Valero refinery Monday.

The workers -- an employee and a contractor -- received chemical burns when a small glass window shattered in a production line, officials said.

Bill Day, spokesman for San Antonio-based Valero, said the employee died at the Regional Medical Center at Memphis after the 9:20 a.m. accident.

It was the second death caused by an accident at the South Memphis refinery this year. It highlighted the hazards of converting crude oil into fuel and concerns that worker advocates have over refinery safety.

Fire Department spokesman Wayne Cooke said the workers were exposed to a mixture of propane and hydrofluoric acid released from a ruptured sight glass.

Day said, "The incident is under investigation, so any speculation at this point is premature."

Officials with the United Steel Workers were reluctant to comment specifically on what went wrong, but they characterized hydrofluoric acid as an extremely hazardous, and replaceable, component of many refining operations.

"It's an extremely deadly material that has to be handled very carefully," said Kim Nibarger, USW's oil health and safety expert. "We've had a number of incidents over the years with hydrofluoric acid."

USW is coming out with a study next February advocating that refineries switch to sulfuric acid as a catalyst in the alkylation process. Sulfuric acid is more easily detected and dealt with if it leaks, Nibarger said. Alkylation converts high-octane butane and propane gases into lower-octane fuels.

A tanker spill in South Korea in September released eight tons of hydrofluoric acid, killing five, injuring 18 and leaving 3,000 people complaining of symptoms from the toxic fumes.

Two firefighters were also hospitalized after responding to the Valero incident, Cooke said. They were taken to The Med in noncritical condition to be treated for chemical exposure.

Fire Department and on-site emergency personnel responded to the accident, and appropriate regulatory agencies were notified, Valero said.

San Antonio-based Valero said it expected no environmental impact on the neighborhood, and refinery operations weren't affected.

Monday's incident came about nine months after an accident at the refinery critically injured three contractors who were doing maintenance. One of the workers later died.

In the March 6 accident, a flash fire erupted while a five-person crew was working outside on a flare, a safety device that vents gases from the refinery.

The Memphis plant and industry in general have a history of accidents and complaints about safety violations.

A multimillion-dollar wrongful death and injury lawsuit was filed in April in San Antonio, where Valero is based, claiming severe and gross negligence on the company's part. The lawsuit said it was the third fire at the facility in less than two years.

The lawsuit contended the company failed to ensure no hazardous or flammable gases were left in the flare line. It also alleged firefighting procedures and equipment were inadequate.

Valero's refinery at 543 W. Mallory produces regular and premium gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and petrochemicals.

Copyright 2012 - The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tenn.

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