Steel Workers Work To Ensure Safe Texas Citgo Refinery Startup

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/12115

Submitted by Doug Cunningham on October 7, 2009 - 2:44pm
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By Doug Cunningham

The United Steelworkers union is trying to make sure that when a Citgo refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas restarts this month it’s a safe startup. The refinery was shut down after an explosion that critically injured a worker. John Warner, President of USW Local 13-1647, says Citgo wanted to rush the startup before workers were comfortable with the safety precautions.

: “I want to make sure that my people are confident enough to walk in that unit, push the button and come up and feel safe. I want them to have that confidence.”

Warner says hydrogen fluoride or HFS is used at this refinery – a dangerous chemical the USW would like to see phased out in favor of better, safer solid catalyst technology.

: “Used properly it can work, but when it gets away from you it’s some bad ju-ju. It really is a rough chemical to be around. You have to be extremely careful. There’s some new technologies out there that uses solid catalyst. It just takes money for corporations and people to change.”