The Reality of Refinery Work

The AP via ABCNews: 14 Dead, 1 Missing in Texas Refinery Blast

Wenceslado de la Cerda, a 50-year-old retired firefighter, said the blast shook the ground, rattled windows and knocked ceiling panels to the floor.

"Basically, it was one big boom," he said. "It's a shame that people have to get killed and hurt trying to make a dollar in these plants, but that's part of reality."

Conflicting responses to this quote. As always, more context would be nice.

On one hand, I recognize the inherent dangers of working in an industry that deals with flammable, explosive, and poisonous materials. This danger is greater when working within the compound where those materials are harvested, processed, and distributed. The very nature of the work means the unresolvable tendency for humans to screw up results in harsh consequences. Therefore, one way to spin the comment is to simply nod your head and agree. I don't think it's a "shame" that petrochemical employees chose to work risky jobs, but I do think it is a shame that once an accident (or irresponsibilty on the part of the business owner) occurs, people trying to make a living get injured and sometimes die. Diligence in the name of safety can stem this number, but it will never remain zero forever.

On the other hand, I tense up at another implication: "the brutal demands of the free market system driving people to work deadly jobs against their will." The crucial aspect of this is in the "people have to get killed and hurt trying to make a dollar" portion of the Mr. Cerda's statement. It speaks of an inevitability the economy imposes upon workers. This is not the same as what I mentioned above, where I acknowledge the fact that accidents happen and people suffer due to them. This is something different. This takes the first for granted and then posits the hapless, lower-class laborer as a tool forced into work because he wants to eat. Therefore, reality forces man to work and get killed.

I posted on a large explosion at a BASF facility in the Houson area back in 2002: Explosion at BASF Plant in Texas, Update on the BASF Explosion, Why isn't the Texas BASF Explosion Getting More Coverage?, BASF Freeport Explosion Update.

Posted by Drizzten at March 24, 2005 08:46 AM