- Phillips explosion of 1999
Two contractors were killed and three men were injured in an explosion on the morning of Wednesday, June 23, 1999, at
Phillips Petroleum Company 's K-Resin plant in its chemical complex at 1400 Jefferson Road,Pasadena, Texas 77506. An alarm sounded at 11:30 am when the blast occurred and a fire erupted. It took more than an hour for Phillips' onsite fire department to extinguish the blaze.cite web | title=Explosion Kills Two at Phillips K-Resin Plant | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5258/is_199906/ai_n20345564 | accessdate=2007-12-09]Those killed were 24-year-old Juan Martinez and his uncle Jose Inez Rangel, who were performing a
hydrostatic test on pipe until they were burned to death by 500-degree F molten plastic.cite web | title=Tort Reform Lone Star Style | url=http://www.southernstudies.org/news/fs20041014.htm | accessdate=2007-12-09] Both Martinez and Rangel were employed by Zachry Construction Corporation.cite web | title=K-Resin(Registered Trademark) Facility Incidents | url=http://sec.edgar-online.com/2002/03/15/0000912057-02-010087/Section3.asp | accessdate=2007-12-09]Facility Today
Today, the facility continues to manufacture high-density polyethylene (
HDPE ), as well as K-Resin SBC.cite web | title=Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC - Worldwide Operations (hotlink sequence: Polyethylene, Texas, Pasadena) | url=http://www.cpchem.com/enu/plants_facilities.asp | accessdate=2008-02-22] This complex employs 750 workers for the production of specialty chemicals, including 150 operations and maintenance personnel.cite web | title=Docket H054A, EX. 50-1-2-24, 24.0 Chromium Catalyst Users, page 24-5 (5 of 20) | url=http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/ContentViewer?objectId=09000064801ef778&disposition=attachment&contentType=pdf | accessdate=2008-02-22]The facility also experienced fatalities in 1989 and 2000. A massive propane leak occurred on 25-Jun-2008 in a utility easement just outside plant property. [cite news |title=Pasadena propane pipeline springs a leak |url=http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou080625_tnt_pipeline.3a457bdb.html |work=khou.com |publisher=KHOU-TV, Inc. |date=2008-06-25 |accessdate=2008-06-25 ] [cite news |title=Accident sparks propane leak near plant |url=http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=6222957 |work=ktrk.com |publisher=KTRK-TV/DT |date=2008-06-25 |accessdate=2008-06-25 ] [cite news |title=Propane Leaks From Pasadena Pipeline |url=http://www.click2houston.com/news/16707499/detail.html |work=click2houston.com |publisher=KPRC-TV/DT |date=2008-06-25 |accessdate=2008-06-25 ]
References
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