Chevron Phillips Pasadena (Texas) Plastics Complex
The Chevron Phillips Pasadena Plastics Complex is a 630-acre facility that is located on the Houston Ship Channel in Texas. Consisting of three plants, the complex manufactures a variety of plastics and resins including unsaturated polyester resin, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin, fluoropolymer resin, ethylene vinyl acetate resin, liquid crystal polymer resin, nylon, polybutylene terepthatlate and polycarbonate.
Disasters at the Chevron Phillips Pasadena Facility
This particular Chevron Phillips facility, one of several the Texas-based company operates in the Lone Star State, has been plagued by a number of disasters. In 1989, the plant – which was owned by Phillips at the time – suffered a catastrophic explosion that took the lives of 23 employees. More than 300 others were injured. The explosion was triggered by the release of process gases during regular maintenance procedures. Ten years later, in 1999, two additional contract workers were killed at the plant.
In 2000, another disaster occurred at the complex. This one killed one and injured 69 employees and resulted in the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) posting 50 safety violations against the Pasadena, Texas, facility.
The disasters that have occurred at Chevron Phillips' Pasadena plant have demonstrated that working in a chemical plant can be quite hazardous. Working with such volatile materials combined with high-temperature processes means that the potential for disaster is never far behind. This was especially true in the years before OSHA established guidelines for worker safety.
Asbestos Used Within Chevron Plants
For Chevron employees at the Pasadena complex, workers were often frightened and worried about the risk of explosions and other occurrences. However, many workers were unaware that they were simultaneously facing a silent killer in the form of the toxic mineral asbestos.
In chemical plants in operation prior to 1980, asbestos was commonly used as an insulator. Asbestos was known to be one of the best insulators available, so its use made sense in a facility full of boiling chemicals and hot equipment. In addition, asbestos was inexpensive, which made it attractive to plant owners.
Asbestos insulation could be found in the pipes, ovens, furnaces, tanks, pumps, heat exchangers and reactors in a Chevron chemical plant.
Additionally, asbestos could be found in the protective clothing that chemical plant workers were often asked to wear to prevent burns and other injuries. Often, this clothing was made from woven asbestos cloth and asbestos textiles.
Asbestos Exposure at the Pasadena Complex
Anyone who worked at the Pasadena Chevron Phillips plant while asbestos materials were in use – primarily the 1940s through the 1970s – is thought to be at risk of exposure to toxic asbestos fibers. Furthermore, those who worked at the plant in later years, as well as those who lived in the community, were exposed to an abundance of airborne asbestos materials when explosions occurred at the plant.
An article in a 1991 issue of Construction Dimensions cited the 1989 explosion, which “blanketed” the affected area with transite, an asbestos-containing siding material. The company responsible for the clean-up had to dispatch 150 workers to the site to pick up what they described as “a smorgasbord of debris.” As was true with the World Trade Center explosion in 2001, the debris left behind by this explosion presented a hazard to not only Chevron Phillips workers but also to first responders, contract employees and residents of the area.
Chevron Phillips Pasadena Plastics and Asbestos Litigation
Through the years, numerous lawsuits have been filed by a variety of individuals in regards to asbestos exposure at the Pasadena complex. The lawsuits allege that due to the company's disregard for safety procedures, workers were exposed to toxic asbestos fibers, which later caused the plaintiffs to develop diseases such as mesothelioma. Clearly, the blame lies with Chevron Phillips and their negligence.
Resources for Chemical Plant Workers
Chemical plant workers are high on the list of those most likely to develop asbestos-related diseases. Anyone who worked in such a facility should be sure to inform their doctor of past asbestos exposure so that any suspicious symptoms – including shortness of breath, coughing, chest pain or fatigue – might be diagnosed sooner, which allows treatment to begin sooner. Chemical workers should also be sure to have regular check-ups and tests to determine the presence of any asbestos disease.
There are a number of top-notch mesothelioma experts located throughout the United States. Our Top Mesothelioma Doctor Directory provides an expansive list of these medical professionals. For patients seeking immediate assistance, a Patient Advocate can help you find a specialist for your specific diagnosis, assist in setting up an initial appointment and discuss treatment options. To speak directly with a Patient Advocate, call (800) 615-2270 or fill out the form on this page to request more information.
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Last Modified Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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