Two steelworkers died tragically this week after an explosion erupted at the BP Huskey oil refinery located in a suburb outside Toledo, Ohio.
According to media reports, the deceased were more than colleagues – they were also brothers.
BP Husky Explosion Triggered Major Fire
The September 20th explosion broke out shortly before 7:00 p.m. at the BP Husky Toledo Refinery located at 4001 Cedar Point Road in Oregon, Ohio. The explosion triggered a major fire, sending huge columns of smoke and flame into the air.
BP initially reported that two workers had been injured in the incident. However, the badly burned men later died. According to local media, the decedents were brothers and members of United Steelworkers District One Local 346.
“It is with deep sadness we report that two BP staff injured in a fire at the BP Husky Toledo Refinery have passed away,” refinery officials said in a statement issued on Wednesday. “Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of these two individuals. All other staff is accounted for, and our employee assistance team is on-site in Toledo to support our employees impacted by this tragedy.”
Fire crews managed to extinguish the blaze by 10:15 p.m. The refinery is currently offline, and it’s unclear when the facility might reopen.
Cause of BP Husky Toledo Refinery Explosion Under Investigation
So far, it’s not known what caused Tuesday night’s explosion.
According to Reuters, the refinery had recently reopened after a maintenance shutdown, with one source telling the outlet that leaking fumes from a crude unit might have been to blame.
Personnel from the U.S. Occupational Safety & Health Administration arrived at the refinery Wednesday morning.
The BP Husky Toledo Refinery can process 160,000 barrels of crude per day. It currently produces gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas, diesel fuels, jet fuel, propane, propylene, flue gases, kerosene, sulfur, heating oil, pet coke, and asphalt. Built by Standard Oil in 1919, the facility was acquired by BP and Huskyin 2009. Cenovus announced last month it would be purchasing BPs 50% stake and taking over ownership of the plant. The Calgary, Canada-based company acquired the remaining 50% last year when it merged with Husky.
What to Do After a Refinery Accident or Explosion
Refinery fires, explosions, and accidents often leave workers severely injured and catastrophically burned. If you or a loved one were hurt while working in a refinery or other industrial plant, it’s important to understand two essential facts:
- Your employer isn’t going to “take care of you,” no matter what they say.
- Time is not on your side.
What you do in the days and weeks that follow will determine whether you’re fully and fairly compensated for all your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain or limited to a small amount of workers’ compensation benefits that won’t come close to covering all of your injuries and losses.
- Notify Your Employer You Were Hurt ASAP: Timely notification will ensure you receive your mandated worker’s compensation benefits and provide documentation of the work-related nature of your injuries. Formally inform your employer of your injury immediately, even if you don’t think you were hurt.
- Demand Immediate Medical Care of Your Choice: Head to the nearest ER or urgent care to get checked out, even if you don’t think you’re badly hurt. And remember, you have a right to demand to see the doctor of your choice and are under no obligation to see the doctors and medical providers chosen by your employer or its insurer. It’s in your best interest not to do so.
- Write Down Everything You Can Remember: Once your immediate needs have been addressed, sit down and write a detailed account of the accident or explosion, including the names and contact information of any witnesses. Record every detail you can remember, even those that might seem unimportant at the moment.
- Don’t Give a Recorded Statement: Absolutely never, under any circumstances, agree to provide a formal statement for the insurance company, sign anything, or accept any money other than your regular paycheck before speaking with an experienced plant explosion attorney.
- Avoid Discussion of the Accident or Your Injuries: Until your case is resolved, limit discussion of your accident and injuries to your spouse and your attorney. Never mention anything about your case on social media or discuss it with coworkers, friends, and extended family.
- Listen to Your Doctor: If you fail to follow your treatment plan or miss medical and therapy appointments, you’ll allow your employer and its insurance company to challenge the seriousness of your injuries and raise doubts about your credibility.
- Speak with an Experienced Explosion Attorney: Your employer and its insurance company only want to delay your claim to avoid paying you and your family the compensation you truly deserve. The longer you try to negotiate on your own, the odds of ever receiving full compensation will only decrease, while the likelihood that you’ll walk away with nothing increases.
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If you or a loved one were injured in the deadly BP Husky Toledo Refinery explosion on September 20, 2022, call 1-888-603-3636, use the “chat” button on our homepage, or click here to send us a confidential email through our “Contact Us” form.
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