Workers File Lawsuit Against PEMEX After Deer Park Incident

Following a fatal incident at the Deer Park oil refinery, owned by PEMEX, which resulted in the deaths of two workers and injuries to 35 others, three individuals are suing PEMEX for damages exceeding US$1 million. The plaintiffs, Sergio Antonio Olvera, Jonathan Martínez, and Yoselyn Soto, allege that PEMEX's actions and omissions collectively and individually constituted a failure to provide safe working environment. 

The lawsuit was filed in the Harris County District Court in Houston by attorney Muhammad Aziz. Geoffrey Adkinson, Spokesperson, Aziz, stated that one of the plaintiffs remains bedridden, while all three have experienced vomiting and respiratory symptoms after being exposed to hydrogen sulfide. This gas, produced during crude oil refining, can be fatal if inhaled in large concentrations.

PEMEX's initial report to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality indicated that the leak continued for 7 hours and 40 minutes, during which the hydrogen sulfide discharge exceeded the hourly emission limit for this hazardous gas by more than 800 times. Víctor Rodríguez, CEO, PEMEX previously reported that thirteen workers remain hospitalized due to exposure to the leak. Rodríguez also noted that several units have been shut down at the refinery following the leak.

In addition to internal investigations, the US Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB), which examines industrial accidents and provides recommendations to prevent future incidents, called for an investigation into what it has called as a “very serious incident.”