On Wednesday, attorneys representing the family of a worker killed and two others injured in a fire at Marathon Petroleum’s Texas City, Texas refinery announced they have filed or will soon file injury claims against the company. The fire occurred on Monday morning while the three were performing preventative maintenance on the plant’s Ultraformer-3.
Scott Higgins, a 55-year-old machinist, was killed and two contract employees, including Eduardo Olivo, were injured in the fire. Olivo received second- and third-degree burns. An investigation is underway, Marathon spokesperson Jamal Kheiry said.
The attorneys are suing Marathon for gross negligence over Higgins death, citing that the company put its profits over worker safety. Olivo is also bringing negligence, premises liability and/or gross negligence claims over his injuries.
This is the second worker to die at the Marathon refinery this year, and the third since a 2005 explosion caused by an overflowing refinery unit killed 15 contract workers and injured 180 others.