Arnold & Itkin fights for plant workers and families who have lost loved ones in chemical plant explosions, fires, and other catastrophic chemical plant accidents. Too often, we have seen workers put in harm’s way because big corporations choose to delay turnarounds, allow lax safety standards to persist, or do not properly maintain equipment. When this happens, our Goodyear plant accident lawyers stand ready to get answers and see justice served for those who pay the ultimate price: the workers and their families.
To learn how we can help you, call (888) 493-1629 or contact us online for your free case review.
Goodyear Chemical Plant Locations
- The 55-acre Goodyear Bayport Chemical Plant is located between Pasadena and LaPorte, Texas. The plant was first built in 1971. Goodyear leased the plant in 1973 and then purchased it in 1978. Its main products are hydroquinone, meta and para DIPB, acetone, and antioxidants.
- The Goodyear Beaumont Chemical Plant was built in 1961 on what was once a rice field in Texas. The Beaumont Chemical Plant is now one of the world’s biggest manufacturers of synthetic rubber products. The plant generates its own power, and the synthetic rubber it produces is used to manufacture tires, golf balls, and a wide range of other products.
- The 130-acre Goodyear Houston Chemical Plant is located close to the Houston Ship Channel, east of downtown Houston. The plant was initially owned by the United States government that was built to produce rubber products during World War II, but Goodyear has operated the plant since 1943 and purchased it in 1955.
- The Goodyear Niagara Falls Chemical Plant is located on 28 acres of land near Niagara Falls, New York. It was built in 1946 for the purpose of manufacturing PVC but began producing rubber products in 1957. Today, the Niagara Falls Chemical Plant manufactures antioxidants that are shipped worldwide.
- Goodyear Chemical also has a Research & Development Facility in Akron, Ohio.
Fatal Explosion at Goodyear Rubber Manufacturing Facility in Houston, TX
On June 11, 2008, 1 worker lost her life and 6 others were injured in an explosion at the Goodyear Houston Chemical Plant. The explosion occurred while a heat exchanger was undergoing maintenance. It was being cleared out with steam, but a valve was left closed and when the steam encountered liquid ammonia within the exchanger, the pressure built up and caused an explosion. The worker who was killed in the explosion had been working at the Goodyear plant for 31 years and was an operations supervisor. She was not involved in the maintenance but was nearby when the heat exchanger ruptured.
$33 Million Verdict for Motorist Killed by Defective Goodyear Tire
In 2019, a judge awarded $33 million to the family of a man who was killed in 2013 in a collision with a cement truck that had a blown-out tire. The tire was manufactured at a Goodyear plant in Danville, Virginia. The tread had separated on the cement truck’s tire, causing the driver to lose control and roll over onto the victim’s vehicle.
$1.75 Million Settlement for Health & Safety Violations at Goodyear Plant
Over the course of a single year, from August 2015 to August 2016, 4 workers lost their lives at Goodyear’s Danville, VA plant. One was a worker who was killed when he fell into a pit of boiling water and oil that was over six feet deep. This horrific accident occurred because there was an unguarded opening to the pit, which had been open for more than five months after the removal of a sump pump. 11 inspections uncovered more than 100 violations.
Goodyear settled for $1.75 million, with $750,000 intended to fix hazards and implement workplace safety training programs.
Contact Our Goodyear Plant Accident Law Firm
Going against a giant corporation like Goodyear can seem impossible, but our firm has the resources and willpower to face off against any opponent. If you or someone you love was harmed at a Goodyear chemical plant or at any industrial worksite, we can help you understand your options and your rights.
Call (888) 493-1629 to find out how our industrial injury lawyers can help.
