US Chemical Safety Board faults Pemex in 2024 fatal accident
The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) faulted Pemex for a fatal 2024 incident at the Deer Park, Texas refinery, citing the absence of a standard system to correctly identify idled equipment. The lack of proper labeling and tagging contributed to a release of poison gas that killed two workers.
The CSB report highlights systemic safety gaps at Pemex, including ineffective lockout/tagout practices and inadequate control of equipment status, which hindered timely hazard awareness and response. Investigators urged Pemex to adopt comprehensive safety management improvements to prevent similar incidents.
Pemex and regulators are reviewing the CSB findings and considering corrective actions to strengthen process safety, particularly around idle or out-of-service equipment, to protect workers and reduce the risk of hazardous releases.