Three workers who were injured in a hydrogen sulfide leak at the Deer Park Pemex plant last week are taking legal action against the energy company, PEMEX. The lawsuit, which has been filed by Houston attorney Muhammad Aziz on behalf of the three contractors, alleges negligence on the part of Deer Park Refining, LP. According to The Houston Chronicle, the plaintiffs, Sergio Antonio Olvera, Jonathan Martinez, and Yoselyn Soto, were given the go-ahead to perform maintenance on plant equipment which, unbeknownst to them, contained the toxic gas.
Muhammad Aziz stated, "All 3 of them inhaled hydrogen sulfide, went down and were taken to the hospital and are suffering from neurological disorders and respiratory problems." The attorney has accused PEMEX of "gross negligence and malice," further claiming the company released 30 times more than the acceptable exposure of hydrogen sulfide. In a report by KHOU, it was mentioned that the leak has unfortunately claimed two lives already, with the plaintiffs continuing to suffer from symptoms like dizziness, headaches, and vomiting.
The lawsuit is seeking $1 million in damages, as the workers grapple with the aftermath of what appears to quickly have turned into an industrial nightmare. In response to the allegations, PEMEX issued a statement, "As has been reported since October 10, when the gas leak was announced at the Deer Park refinery, Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) continues the follow-up actions to the incident, which was fully controlled; in addition, the site was declared safe to resume activities on the same day. The event involved the release of water sulfide from the Amine Regenerating Unit at the refinery, which lasted only a few minutes. The release of gases occurred during the execution of maintenance activities in this process unit and containment tasks began immediately," the company said, as per their statement obtained by KHOU.
Despite assurances from PEMEX of immediate containment efforts and air quality readings on the refinery perimeter showing zero impact for hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide, the lawsuit underscores a pattern of distress. It has led to a broader conversation about safety protocols and regulatory compliance in these high-stakes industrial environments. "The chemicals used in these types of plants are known to be poisonous to humans. There are protocols in place for handling exposure and containment, but in this case, they were not followed," Aziz told The Houston Chronicle.
Local official response has echoed the concerns raised by Aziz. Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia criticized the company's handling of the incident and underscored the need for better coordination between industry and government. Meanwhile, Deer Park Mayor Jerry Mouton stressed the importance of prompt notification to residents, indicating shortcomings in the use of the city's Community Awareness and Emergency Response alert system during the incident. The lawsuit comes at a time when public scrutiny over industrial accidents is intensifying, as communities demand accountability and safe practices from the very industries they live alongside.
