Safety Board Blames Pemex for Texas Refinery Deaths from Toxic Gas Release

Federal investigators determined that inadequate safety procedures at a Pemex refinery in Texas led to a deadly hydrogen sulfide leak that killed two workers in October 2024. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board found the company lacked proper systems for identifying equipment, which caused workers to mistakenly open the wrong pipe.

Federal safety investigators have determined that poor safety protocols at a Pemex oil refinery in Texas resulted in a fatal toxic gas leak that claimed two workers’ lives last October.

The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board released findings Monday showing that workers at the Deer Park, Texas facility accidentally opened the wrong pipe while preparing equipment for maintenance on October 10, 2024. The mistake occurred because the Mexican oil company failed to implement proper identification systems for inactive equipment.

The error triggered a massive release of 27,000 pounds of hydrogen sulfide, a lethal gas. One worker died immediately after opening the incorrect pipe connection. The toxic cloud then spread across the facility, killing a second employee who couldn’t get to safety in time.

Pemex representatives could not be reached for immediate response to the investigation findings.

According to the safety board’s conclusions, “PEMEX Deer Park had written procedures that standardize pipe marking for pipe cutting but did not have a standardized process for flange opening and blind removal activities.” The investigators added, “Had PEMEX Deer Park required clear standardized markings for all line opening activities, this incident may have been prevented.”

The toxic gas reached dangerous levels of at least 500 parts per million throughout the refinery during the incident. Thirteen additional workers required medical treatment at area hospitals. Local authorities in the Houston-area communities of Pasadena and Deer Park ordered residents to shelter indoors until the emergency passed.

Following the deadly accident, the Pemex facility has implemented new equipment identification procedures, according to the federal report.