Undefeated Refinery Explosion Lawyers
After an accident or explosion at a Chevron refinery, your injuries are overwhelming — your ability to work, care for your family, and plan for the future are all at risk.
No matter what the company promises you, their only goal after a refinery accident is to pay you as little as possible. Time and again, victims and their families are left alone to face life-altering injuries, mounting medical bills, and lost wages — uncertain where to turn for help.
Our Undefeated Plant Explosion Lawyers stand by our clients every step of the way, providing guidance, support, and relentless advocacy to ensure you are never left to navigate this crisis alone. With Billions won, including the largest settlements and verdicts in history for industrial workers injured in catastrophic refinery explosions, we have the resources and experience to take on the biggest energy companies in the world and not just win, but set records.
Read on to learn about protecting your rights after a Chevron refinery accident and how our Refinery Accident Lawyers can stand up, fight, and win for you.
About Chevron
Headquartered in Houston, Texas, Chevron is one of the world’s largest integrated oil and gas corporations, operating across every stage of the petrochemical value chain—from exploration and production to refining, chemical manufacturing, and global distribution.
With tens of thousands of refinery workers and contractors across the United States, Chevron operates five U.S. oil refineries, seven biodiesel facilities, and dozens of jointly-owned Chevron-Phillips Chemical plants, with a combined throughput capacity exceeding 1 million barrels per day (bpd). These facilities produce the fuels, lubricants, and petrochemicals that power much of the nation’s transportation and industrial infrastructure.
Chevron Pasadena Refinery
Recently upgraded to process 125,000 barrels per day, the Pasadena, TX refinery refines crude oil into gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel for distribution across the Gulf Coast region. The facility also produces key feedstocks used in chemical manufacturing and employs a workforce of roughly 700 people.
Chevron Pascagoula Refinery
Chevron’s largest U.S. refinery, the Mississippi plant is located on over 3,000 acres, employing over 4,000 workers and processing approximately 369,000 barrels of crude oil per day. It produces gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, propane, and base oils, as well as petrochemical feedstocks that support Chevron’s global supply chain.
Chevron Salt Lake Refinery
With a capacity of about 55,000 barrels per day, the Salt Lake refinery primarily supplies gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel to markets throughout Utah, Idaho, Nevada, and Wyoming.
Chevron Richmond Refinery
Located just 15 miles north of San Francisco, the Richmond Refinery employs roughly 1,200 workers, processing approximately 250,000 barrels per day of crude oil. It produces gasoline, diesel, aviation fuels, lubricants, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) for California and the broader West Coast market.
Chevron El Segundo Refinery
Chevron’s largest West Coast refinery, covering roughly 1,000 acres in Los Angeles County, CA, has a processing capacity of 290,000 barrels per day and employs over 1,600 workers and contractors. It produces jet fuel for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), as well as gasoline, diesel, and marine fuels for commercial and consumer use.
Chevron Renewable Energy Group – Geismar, Louisiana
Acquired in 2022, the Renewable Energy Group (REG) Geismar Plant produces renewable diesel derived from animal fats and vegetable oils. Chevron plans to expand the site to achieve 100,000 barrels per day of renewable fuels capacity by 2030, aligning with its long-term low-carbon energy strategy.
Recent Chevron Refinery Accidents & Explosions
Chevron has a long history of putting profits ahead of worker safety. Over the past decade, the company has paid hundreds of millions in fines and regulatory penalties for repeatedly cutting corners and ignoring critical safety standards across its refineries nationwide. This includes a $150 million settlement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requiring Chevron to make major safety upgrades at its U.S. plants.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), Chevron refineries have accumulated at least 76 violations and $266,000 in penalties since 2020. Many of these stem from accidents, complaints, and routine inspections that uncovered 15 “serious” infractions, which OSHA defines as hazards that are most likely to cause death or serious physical harm — including failures in emergency shutdown systems, poorly maintained equipment, ignoring industry safety standards, and neglecting required inspections and facility upgrades.
Chevron Pasadena — Scaffolding Collapse Seriously Injures 3 (2025)
In March 2025, three workers were seriously injured in a scaffolding collapse at the Chevron Pasadena plant. The incident occurred during maintenance operations and remains under investigation.
Chevron REG Geismar — Hydrogen Gas Explosion Causes Severe Burns (2024)
In September 2024, two workers were airlifted to Baton Rouge General Hospital burn unit after a hydrogen gas explosion at the Chevron REG plant left them seriously injured, including one with severe burns over 15% of his body. The cause of the explosion is under investigation.
Chevron Pascagoula — History of Fires, Fatalities & Toxic Releases
In July 2025, five workers were injured in a fire at Chevron’s Pascagoula Refinery—an all-too-familiar tragedy at this site. The refinery has a long record of dangerous incidents, including a deadly 2013 explosion that killed a 46-year-old employee after Chevron failed to train workers on emergency shutdown procedures. In 2014, a contract worker fell to his death inside the refinery’s processing unit. Most recently, in February 2025, the refinery released over 1,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide, a toxic gas known to cause respiratory injuries.
Chevron Richmond — Flash Fire
In August 2012, the California refinery experienced one of the worst flash fires in U.S. refinery history after workers discovered a leak in a crude unit. Within minutes, a vapor cloud ignited, trapping 19 workers in what witnesses described as a “wall of fire.” The blaze sent thousands of Bay Area residents to hospitals for respiratory problems and led to major civil and criminal penalties against Chevron.
Chevron El Segundo — Repeated Fires & Explosions
Just weeks ago, in October 2025, an explosion and massive fire tore through Chevron’s El Segundo refinery, forcing workers to flee the site. The incident followed another major fire in 2022, the same year OSHA cited the facility for failing to maintain safe work practices to prevent leaks, spills, and fires. The plant has faced multiple safety violations over the past decade tied to poor hazard control and inadequate maintenance.
Common Causes of Chevron Refinery Accidents
An accident at a Chevron refinery is not a one-time, freak incident. It’s the result of a corporate culture that continues to prioritize profits over safety. Many of the fires, explosions, scaffolding collapses, and equipment malfunctions that happen at Chevron refineries are entirely preventable.
Just a few of the common causes we’ve seen time and again in the thousands of refinery accident cases we’ve successfully handled across Texas and the U.S. include:
- Lack of Proper Training and Safety Precautions: Inexperienced or untrained workers may not recognize warning signs of structural weakness or other hazards. Without proper training or fall protection, they’re far more likely to suffer serious injuries.
- Aging Equipment and Poor Maintenance: Aging or poorly maintained equipment can be disastrous at a refinery. In 2012, for example, corroded pipes at Chevron Richmond released the vapor cloud that ignited within minutes, creating a “wall of fire” and blanketing the Bay Area in smoke.
- Inspection Failures: Routine inspections are critical to identifying weak points in scaffolding, machinery, and industrial systems. When companies neglect maintenance, rust, wear, and loose connections can compromise stability and increase the risk of collapse.
- Violations of OSHA Safety Rules: Employers are legally required to follow OSHA regulations and industry-specific safety protocols. When companies cut corners—whether by failing to provide PPE or ignoring proper installation procedures—workers are put directly in harm’s way.
In our experience, these disasters rarely result from a single failure. A combination of mistakes or negligence across multiple parties typically are to blame.
That’s why, from day one, our Chevron plant and refinery accident lawyers work to uncover exactly what happened and identify every responsible party — including third party contractors, equipment manufacturers, and joint venture partners. We then fight to hold them fully accountable, ensuring you and your family have the financial resources needed to recover, rebuild, and move forward with confidence.
What To Do After a Chevron Refinery Accident
The aftermath of a refinery explosion is chaotic and overwhelming. Your safety and recovery come first, but remember: Chevron’s priority is protecting its bottom line—not you. The company, along with its insurers and teams of lawyers, will do everything possible to minimize your injuries, shift blame, and pay you as little as possible.
What you do in the hours and days after the accident can make the difference between recovering full compensation—or walking away with far less than you deserve.
The Most Important Steps to Take After a Refinery Accident
- Get immediate medical care from a doctor of your choosing—not one paid by Chevron or its insurer.
- Don’t rely solely on workers’ comp. These benefits rarely cover full lost wages, future care, or pain and suffering.
- Preserve evidence. If safe to do so, photograph the scene, your injuries, and damaged equipment before cleanup begins. Keep your work clothing and gear unwashed in sealed bags.
- Gather witness information from coworkers and contractors who saw what happened.
- Don’t give statements or sign anything without speaking to a lawyer—Chevron’s insurers will use your words against you.
- Stay off social media. Anything you post can be twisted to weaken your case.
- Contact an experienced refinery accident lawyer immediately. The sooner your attorney gets involved, the sooner critical evidence can be preserved and your rights protected.
How Zehl & Associates Can Help if You or Loved One Were Injured in a Chevron Refinery Explosion
Having set records for thousands injured in the most catastrophic plant, refinery, and industrial explosions in history, our Undefeated Refinery Explosion Lawyers know exactly how far companies like Chevron will go to avoid responsibility when workers and contractors are seriously injured or killed. We’ve seen every tactic and cover-up in the books —and we never back down until until every responsible party is held fully accountable and your future is protected.
Companies know who we are and they understand they have one of two choices when they go up against us: Pay the maximum compensation possible for all your injuries and losses or face us at trial, where we’ve never lost a case, and where the verdict will cost them far more than any settlement ever could.
But our success extends far beyond the courtroom. Our client-first approach means we devote our full time, resources, and energy to helping you rebuild and recover while we handle everything else:
- Connecting you with the top medical specialists in the nation to diagnose and treat your injuries.
- Covering medical bills and living expenses while your case is pending, so financial pressure never forces you to settle early.
- Providing 24/7 support and ongoing updates so you’re never left in the dark about your case.
- Offering financial guidance once your case is resolved to help secure your family’s future.
- Refusing to settle for less than the maximum recovery possible—no exceptions.
When you choose Zehl & Associates, you choose a team with an unwavering commitment to your recovery, your future, and your family.
Chevron Refinery Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 for a Free Consultation
In addition to being undefeated, our Refinery Explosion Lawyers have won Billions for accident victims, including record-setting recoveries for industrial workers who were injured or tragically killed in connection with the worst plant, refinery, and pipeline explosions in recent memory. Our recent victories include an $85 Million Settlement for a worker seriously injured in a refinery scaffolding accident and highly-favorable, confidential settlements for over 65 workers injured during the Williams explosion in Geismar, Louisiana.
If you or a loved one was injured or tragically killed in a Chevron refinery accident, contact us today for a free consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or send us a confidential email through our Contact Us form.
We have the resources, knowledge, and experience to ensure that you and your family are fully compensated for all of your injuries and losses.
All consultations are free and confidential, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.