Common Causes for Refinery Accidents

Posted by arun on November 25th, 2015

The oil refinery is not the safest place for anyone to work. But the demand for oil is so high that the need for crude oil has taken precedence to human safety. We can’t away with oil refineries as they are important to oil the manufacturing and transportation industry. In fact, oil and gas are essentials one cannot do with. So, the alternate would be to create a safe environment for the employees of the oil and gas refineries. The government has strict rules and regulations about the safety practices to be followed in an oil refinery. If you are not sure if the facility you’re working in has all the safety features, you can consult a refinery accident lawyer.


You can talk to your refinery accident attorney to find out about the common causes for refinery accidents. When you have an idea about the various causes, you will be able to find out if your facility has all the safety devices and features to prevent the occurrence of such accidents. First, let’s take a look at the causes of accidents in oil and gas refineries.


Non-maintenance of machinery


One of the biggest causes of accidents in refineries is improper maintenance of the machinery. If the huge machines malfunction or stop working during operation, it can be chaotic and also cause serious accidents.


Improper training


The employees working in the oil fields should be properly trained in all the aspects, not only in their work, but also in providing first aid. An untrained employee can be a huge risk as he endangers the lives of his fellow workers. Plus, without proper training, the employee will not be able to use the machines, which in turn can cause accidents for him or for others in his vicinity.


Corrosion


Corrosion can slowly eat away the metal in the machines and make them weak and susceptible to damage. The machines should be inspected at regular intervals to ensure that there is no corrosion or rust deposition on them. The machines and boilers should be painted or coated with a non-ferrous finish to ensure that this doesn’t happen. In case, as an employee you come across corrugated or damaged machines, make sure you report to your superiors about it.


When you’re working in an oil and gas refinery, you should make sure that your environs are safe for work. In case you notice any of these problems and report to your supervisors, and still nothing is being done, you can talk to a refinery accident attorney. It’s always better to be safe than sorry. Even with all these cautionary measures, if an accident happens in the facility, then you can file for compensation through a refinery accident lawyer.