A recent lawsuit has placed BWC Terminals at the heart of a safety controversy after a sulfuric acid incident near the Houston Ship Channel. The lawsuit alleges that the company failed to alert workers and contain the spill adequately, which led to a worker suffering severe injuries. Jeffery Lee Lawson, the worker in question, claims to have been working aboard a vessel approximately 500 feet from the BWC Terminals facility during the incident. A collapsed catwalk is said to have ruptured a sulfuric acid line, releasing around one million gallons of the chemical, as reported by KPRC 2.
The KHOU 11 report details Lawson's experience, stating that after hearing a loud crash, he witnessed a large gas cloud being released from the terminal. In the lawsuit, it's claimed that "Mr. Lawson heard a loud crash and subsequently saw a large gas cloud being released from the terminal," and he suffered injuries, including burns to his lungs, throat, skin, and other parts of his body. The same lawsuit criticizes BWC Terminals for not providing "alarms, warnings, or notifications were provided by Defendants" that could have potentially mitigated the harm to workers nearby.
On their end, BWC Terminals has refused to comment on the pending litigation. However, they maintain their position that the safety of their employees and the environment is their top priority. The company stated that, at the time of the incident, the majority of the spill was captured in a designated containment zone, despite an undisclosed amount eventually entering the Houston Ship Channel. BWC Terminals assured that emergency response teams and regulatory authorities were involved immediately and that continuous air monitoring was in effect to ensure local safety. They also claimed that all on-site personnel were accounted for, and that the two hospitalized individuals have since been released, according to their statement on the day of the leak, included in the KHOU 11 article.
Representing Lawson, Attorney Kurt Arnold, in collaboration with Adam Lewis of Arnold & Itkin, condemned the handling of the incident, labeling it "a preventable disaster." In a statement obtained by KPRC 2, Arnold accused BWC Terminals of skirting basic safety measures and exposing workers to undue risk. He expressed concern over what he views as a broader issue within the regulatory landscape, suggesting that eschewing stringent safety protocols in chemical facilities can lead to life-threatening situations, running contrary to technological advancements that should make such sites safer.
The lawsuit seeks damages well in excess of one million dollars, a benchmark amount that allows for the case to be filed in a higher court. It should be noted that this figure does not cap the potential compensation Lawson might receive if the case is adjudicated in his favor, as the plaintiff's legal counsel pointed out. BWC Terminals insists on its commitment to compliance with environmental and safety regulations despite this legal challenge and the troubling allegations presented by the plaintiff.
