Houston, Texas-based Phillips 66 is appealing a $37.5 million fine levied by Washington state in the wake of a toxic acid leak at its Ferndale refinery that sent seven workers to the hospital in February.
The Phillips 66 Ferndale facility is located on Puget Sound, about 20 miles from the Canadian border. The refinery processes both domestic and foreign crude oils, including Alaskan North Slope, Canadian and U.S. shale crudes. The February 10th incident involved hydrofluoric acid, a toxic and highly corrosive chemical that can cause burns, breathing problems and other potentially fatal health effects.
The Phillips 66 acid leak occurred in the refinery’s alkylation unit. Though it was quickly contained, seven workers, including 6 contractors and a Phillips 66 employee, were taken to St. Joseph Hospital in nearby Bellingham. Six were released that evening, while the seventh worker remained in hospital until February 16th.
The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries has since fined Phillips $6,300 each for six “serious” violations at the Ferndale refinery. Among other things, the Department cited the company for failing to “implement safe work practices for the control of hazards for the employees”. Phillips 66 disagrees with the department’s conclusions and has blamed the refinery spill on a contract worker. In an appeal filed on June 23rd, the company asked for the fines to be reversed.
Phillips 66 Louisiana Pipeline Explosion Tragically Kills 1, Leaves 2 With Severe Injuries
Just one day before the Washington refinery accident, a pipeline explosion and fire at the Phillips 66 Station in Paradis, Louisiana resulted in the tragic death of one worker and severe injuries to two others.
The February 9th blast occurred at 7:00 p.m., while workers were cleaning the pipeline. Witnesses described the resulting fire as a “large blowtorch” that reached heights up to 40 feet. Around 60 nearby homes were evacuated for a short time.
Two workers injured in the Phillips 66 pipeline explosion were taken to St. Anne Hospital in Raceland, Louisiana with burns. One required transfer to a burn unit. The remains of the third were not recovered until February 13th.
The Phillip 66 pipeline fire burned for nearly four days before it was extinguished.
Click here to read Ryan Zehl’s interview with the Houma Times regarding the explosion.
Zehl & Associates Representing Contractor Severely Injured in Paradis Phillips 66 Pipeline Explosion
Our Plant Explosion Lawyers were recently retained by one of the contractors who was seriously injured during the Paradis Phillips 66 pipeline explosion and fire. We understand the toll these preventable tragedies take on victims and their families, which is why our lawyers devote all necessary resources to ensure that our client is fully compensated for their injuries and losses.
In just the past 5 years alone, our plant explosion attorneys have recovered more than $1 Billion in settlements and verdicts for workplace accident victims across the United States.
We have also successfully represented hundreds of people injured in some of the largest industrial accidents in recent memory, including:
- 65 contractors injured in the Williams Olefins refinery explosion
- 3 of the 4 workers tragically killed in the Williams Gibson pipeline explosion
- 150 + workers injured in the BP Texas City refinery explosion
Contact Our Undefeated Plant Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation at 1-888-603-3636
If you or a loved one were injured in a refinery or pipeline explosion, call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here for a Free Consult with our Undefeated Explosion Lawyers.