You get up and drive to the refinery to work another 12-hour shift, waiting for your fatigue day and that OT check.
You slide into the safety meeting, then grab your tools and off to the unit to get some work done. It’s another day, another dollar.
Except for the plant, they are ready to bring another unit back online so they can start producing products again, and making money. While they are in a hurry trying to get online, a pipe is leaking gas, no one sees it or smells, the fumes drift into the live unit and explode.
Everyone is running to the evacuation point, and hoping and praying no one was injured.
At the time, you might not feel you were injured physically, but your adrenaline is running wide open, and it is possible that this could affect you mentally down the road.
1. Unseen Injuries
In the heat of the moment, you might not have any injuries, and this can depend on where you were when the explosion took place. Just because you don’t see them now, doesn’t mean you might not have injuries. The mental effects of the traumatic event could cause issues with working in the plants in the future.
2. Determining Fault
What party is liable for the explosion? Was it a lack of safety? There will be an ongoing investigation to determine what happened and who is liable. Was proper training administered before the work began, did they follow protocol when bringing the unit back online?
3. PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder, which is often talked about with soldiers returning from war, but PTSD affects anyone who has seen and been through traumatic events. If you were around the plant explosion and saw someone get hurt, this could be something you should seek help for.
4. No Work
The plant will shut down the unit that blew up and surrounding units more than likely, so if you are physically and mentally able to work, you might not be able to work at this plant. You could see if your company can get you on another job, so you don’t miss any pay.
5. Seek Legal Advice
Whether you were injured or not, it wouldn’t hurt to speak with a Houston attorney who specializes in refinery explosions. You should be able to get a free consultation, and usually, the lawyers don’t take money upfront if they take your case. They would take a cut of the settlement if you were entitled to one.
At The End Of The Day
Working in refineries is a tough way to make a living, days, and weeks can start to run together. There is plenty of money to be made, but money is useless if you never see your family and you are unable to spend it.
If you are involved in an explosion, make sure you seek medical attention for physical and mental injuries.