An oil refinery in Westville, New Jersey was recently fined $305,000 for violating 34 different OSHA regulations. Many of the violations concerned asbestos and the failure by the refinery’s owners, Sunoco Inc., to:
- determine the presence, location and quality of asbestos containing materials at the worksite
- affix labels to all products containing asbestos
- implement safety management procedures
Serious and Repeated Safety Violations
OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, part of the U.S. Department of Labor) cited the Sunoco refinery for 25 serious violations (bringing $105,000 in fines) and nine repeat violations (another $200,000 in penalties).
OSHA area director Gary Roskoski explained, “Sunoco Inc.’s failure to correct these hazards leaves its employees at risk of serious injury and possible death.”
Huge Amounts of Asbestos at Oil Refineries
All of the approximately 150 oil refineries in the U.S. were built before strict asbestos use regulations were implemented in the mid-1970s, and since the oil refining process requires very high heat, asbestos was used very widely in oil refineries for its insulation and friction-resistant properties.
Both refinery employees and those who live near oil refineries were at significant risk of asbestos diseases such as mesothelioma and asbestosis. Indeed, the rates of asbestos diseases are markedly higher than average in these populations.
The Sunoco Eagle Point Facility
Westville is a small town (pop. approx. 4,500) about seven miles south of Camden and Philadelphia, on the bank of the Delaware River. The Westville plant, often referred to as the Sunoco Eagle Point facility, employs nearly 475 people. Oil refinery work is inherently dangerous, but refinery operators are acutely aware of OSHA regulations regarding asbestos and other toxins.
(Source: Reliable Plant)
If an oil refinery or other source of asbestos has impacted you — whether as an employee, a nearby resident, or a family member — consult a law firm that protects the rights of asbestos victims today.