Large industrial sites like refineries, power plants, and petrochemical plants are found all across Texas. Manufacturing is a big part of Houston’s economy. It makes up about 13% of the state’s yearly economic output and provides jobs for hundreds of thousands of Texas workers.
These plants usually run all year without stopping. They only shut down in a few situations, such as after a natural disaster, a power failure, or during a planned seasonal shutdown when demand is lower.
What is a Refinery Turnaround?
Big, planned shutdowns are called turnarounds. During a turnaround, the plant pauses operations so crews can inspect, test, and repair equipment to make sure everything is safe. These shutdowns can last a few weeks or several months, and sometimes even longer. They are often scheduled in the spring or fall when demand is lower than in the hottest and coldest parts of the year.
Turnarounds can be very dangerous for workers and others near the plant. In fact, most serious plant accidents happen during these shutdown periods. About 70% of major industrial plant accidents take place during turnarounds.
Our Houston industrial accident lawyers explain these risks in more detail below.
What Makes Refinery Turnarounds So Dangerous?
Turnarounds are very expensive. The plant has to stop running, which costs a lot of money. Companies also have to bring in extra workers, outside contractors, and special equipment to do the work. These crews use added tools and often run machines at high levels while testing systems for safety.
During a turnaround, workers may be sent all over the plant for inspections and tests, including tight spaces and areas where people don’t usually work. There are also more people, more equipment, and more activity than normal. Machines may be run at full power for testing. All of this raises the chance of accidents and injuries. One of the biggest dangers is falls, which can cause severe or even deadly injuries during turnaround work.
Refinery Turnarounds and Injury Risks
Workers can experience loads of different injuries during plant turnarounds, from minor harm to very serious, life-changing injuries. These may include:
- Injuries from explosions
- Fall injuries
- Crush injuries or loss of fingers, hands, or limbs
- Burns from heat or chemicals
- Breathing injuries from harmful gases or chemicals
- Back and neck injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Injuries from equipment crashes or collisions
During a plant turnaround, it’s very important for every worker to follow OSHA and other safety rules and to wear all required protective gear every day. This helps lower the chance of serious injuries while shutdown work is being done.
What Should I Do if I Am Injured During a Houston Refinery Turnaround?
If you or a loved one was hurt during a plant turnaround, it’s best to talk with a plant and refinery accident lawyer as soon as you can. Right after the accident, try to stay as calm as possible so you can take in what happened and notice the important details.
If you can, take photos or videos of what happened. Write down or record any broken or missing equipment, and keep any physical evidence connected to the accident. Save copies of all papers tied to the incident, such as accident reports, repair bills, and medical records. All of these losses and expenses are called “damages” in a plant turnaround injury case.
How Can a Houston Industrial Accident Lawyer Help My Case?
An experienced Texas industrial plant injury lawyer can help you go after the people or companies responsible for the unsafe conditions that caused your accident and seek payment for your injuries. If your employer in Texas does not carry workers’ compensation insurance, you may be able to sue them to recover your costs, including lost wages from missed work.
Call Parks Law
After a serious industrial accident, getting the right legal help can make a big difference for your recovery and your finances. You shouldn’t have to carry the burden alone when someone else’s safety failures caused your injuries. Clear answers and strong legal support matter.
Call a Houston industrial accident lawyer at Parks Law today at (713) 979-3500 or fill out the contact form on our website to schedule a free consultation and simple, honest guidance about your options.