BEAUMONT, Texas, June 16, 2011  /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The United Steelworkers Union (USW) says the June 14 injury at ExxonMobil's Baytown, Texas, refinery shows the company must do a better job at handling process safety.

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"Glenn Oviedo was seriously injured June 14 while operating a steam vent valve on the refinery's flexicoker, sustaining steam burns over 25 percent of his upper body," said USW International Vice President Gary Beevers, who leads the union's oil sector. "This incident proves ExxonMobil must do a better job on process safety."

"Fortunately Glenn is in stable condition at the Herman hospital in Houston and is expected to recover. Our union is conducting an exhaustive investigation into finding the root causes of this incident so that it doesn't happen again," Beevers added.

USW Health and Safety Coordinator Kim Nibarger is assisting USW Local 13-2001 with the investigation. Emergency Response Team District 13 coordinator Steve Lyle is assisting Glenn's family.

Since the beginning of 2010 ExxonMobil's Baytown refinery has had 33 reported process safety incidents like leaks and flaring.

"These 33 occurrences prove there are far too many process safety incidents at this refinery," Beevers said. "Since the Baytown facility is the nation's largest refinery it should lead the way in process safety."

The USW is the largest industrial union in North America with 850,000 members. It represents workers employed in metals, rubber, chemicals, paper and mining, plus the energy sectors of oil refining, nuclear, gas and electric service utilities, wind, solar and bio-fuels.

Contact: Lynne Baker, USW, o) 615-831-6782, c) 615-828-6169

SOURCE United Steelworkers (USW)

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