Three contractors were hospitalized yesterday, after an accident at a Delaware oil refinery left them severely burned.
New Castle County Paramedics responded to a call from the Delaware City Refining Company at 4550 Wrangle Road shortly before 11:30 a.m. on October 30th.
The accident occurred as the contractors were performing equipment maintenance.
They men underwent on-site decontamination before they were rushed to Christiana Hospital in Newark.
Injured Workers Being Treated at Pennsylvania Burn Unit
Unfortunately, because of the serious nature of their injuries, doctors later transferred the men to the burn unit at Crozer Medical Center in Upland, Pennsylvania.
According to the hospital, a 39-year-old man is currently listed in critical condition with burns to his face and arms.
A 36-year-old worker is listed as serious, after suffering burns on his face and neck.
The third contractor, 22, suffered facial burns and is listed in stable condition.
Fortunately, doctors said all would survive.
Burn Injuries Resulted From “Release of Heated Product Under Pressure”
Initially, Chief Deputy State Fire Marshal Robert Fox characterized the incident as a minor explosion.
After further investigation, however, Fox reported that the accident actually involved the “release of heated product under pressure.”
Investigators from the state’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Police arrived at the Delaware City Refining Company yesterday. So far, however, it’s not clear what caused the release.
Earlier Incidents at the Delaware City Refining Company Have Injured at Least 4 Workers
The Delaware City Refining Company is a subsidiary of PBF Energy and has a capacity of 190,000 barrels per day.
Unfortunately, yesterday’s accident wasn’t the first to injure workers at the facility.
In November 2015, for example, a 62-year-old night-shift operator sustained second- and third-degree burns in a flash fire.
Investigators from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board faulted the Delaware City Refining Company for failing to take precautions that could have prevented the accident.
The refinery experienced two other major incidents in 2015, including a fire in August that destroyed a building and equipment.
A chemical release injured three other workers just one week later.
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Our Undefeated Refinery Accident Lawyers are investigating the incident at the Delaware City Refining Company and will post an update should new information become available.
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