The oil workers’ union ripped the industry’s safety record Monday, citing incidents such as a fire at the Valero Memphis refinery and the explosion that unleashed the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The United Steelworkers Union said the industry is averaging almost one fire a week over the past 16 months.
“The frequency of these fires indicates the lack of attention refiners are paying toward process safety and shows they are not learning the lessons from previous incidents,” said Gary Beever, USW international vice president.
Valero spokesman Bill Day said, “Valero makes safety its top priority, and events like last week’s fire are unfortunate but very rare. Valero has one of the industry’s best safety records — our total recordable injury rate for 2010 is 0.6 — and is the only refiner that has committed to getting all of its plants certified as Star Sites under OHSA’s Voluntary Protection Program, which is a rigorous set of safety audits. Valero also has its own ongoing process safety program.”
A 29-year-old worker was critically injured, with burns over 45 percent of his body, by the fire last week at the refinery in Southwest Memphis.
Day said the employee is still hospitalized.
The fire remains under investigation, the affected unit is being repaired, and the refinery’s production units are either running or in startup mode, he said.
San Antonio-based Valero is America’s largest independent oil refiner.
– Wayne Risher: 529-2874
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