Asbestos found after English oil refinery fire

Asbestos found after English oil refinery fire
Asbestos found after English oil refinery fire

Friday, July 2nd, 2010

Asbestos was found in an English oil refinery by crews investigating a fire and explosion at the facility, forcing workers to be sent home.

According to the BBC, a fire started at the Lindsey Oil Refinery because of a industrial heater. A 24-year-old from Grimsby, Robert Greenacre, died in the incident. Two other workers suffered minor injuries.
Fire Disturbed the Asbestos

The deadly mineral was disturbed by the explosion and subsequent fire, a spokeswoman said. The asbestos was discovered in the refinery’s crude oil distillation unit.

“Independent specialists from Yorkshire have found traces of asbestos at the scene of the explosion,” Paul Whitehurst of the GMB Union said.

Hundreds of workers at the refinery have been sent home while safety checks are completed.

“Workers on the HDS-3 plant have been sent home on full pay until Monday while specialists deal with the asbestos problem,” Whitehurst told the news source.

Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma lung cancer and asbestosis. These deadly diseases are responsible for the deaths of about 90,000 people each year around the world, according to the World Health Organization.
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Asbestos found after English oil refinery fire