Remembering Those Who Fell

This page pays tribute to the members of our union who died while on the job.

 

 

Jerry Canell - 1955

Jerry was working on top of a fuel blending tank at the Shell* refinery. An inner heating coil developed a leak, allowing hot steam condensate to mix with the asphalt within the tank. The rapid heating caused the tank wall to rupture, allowing its contents to begin boiling out. Jerry jumped from the tank roof, hitting his head as he landed, resulting in his death.

 

 

 

 

                

     Ed Stocker - 1979                        Earl Staneck - 1979

Ed and Earl were working for PM Northwest at the Shell* refinery. As they were pulling a blind, gases were released and ignited by a nearby heater, killing both men.

 

 

Bob Owings - 1988

While working for Texaco*, Bob fell from a ladder, injuring his leg. During his recuperation, a blood clot formed, broke loose, and made its way to Bob's heart.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff Heidingsfelder - 1992

Jeff was working for PM Northwest at the BP refinery in Ferndale, giving signals to a crane operator below. Below Jeff were two coworkers pulling a blind. As the blind was pulled, gases were released and ignited by a nearby heater. A huge fireball erupted. As the fireball moved up the tower, Jeff was killed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tracy Giles - 1996

Employed by Texaco*, Tracy was working with coworkers to prepare an exchanger for maintenance. While attempting to steam out the exchanger, a plug formed, creating a pressure build up. As Tracy was making her way down scaffolding, the pressure blew the exchanger cover off, striking Tracy in the head and killing her instantly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equilon* Coker Tragedy - 1998

Jim, Ted, Warren (Woody), and Wayne were working on the Coker unit at the Equilon* refinery. The unit was in an upset due to a total power failure at the refinery. As the members, along with two other coworkers, were unheading a coke drum, a pocket of high temperature hydrocarbon broke free. Upon contact with air, the hydrocarbon self-ignited, sending a giant fireball up the structure. All six people on the structure were killed.

                                  

Wayne Dowe                                         Jim Berlin

                                          

Warren "Woody" Fry                                   Ted Cade    

 

 

 

Tesoro NW Tragedy - 2010

On April 2nd, 2010 while bringing an exchanger on line in the Naptha Hydrotreater unit, an adjacent exchanger that was in service suffered a catastrophic failure. This failure resulted in the release of a large amount of hydrocarbon, which ignited, engulfing the workers. All seven people died from the injuries sustained from the fire.

                                        

Dan Aldridge                                        Matt Bowen

                                               

Matt Gumbel                                      Darrin Hoines

                                                     

      Kathryn Powell                                   Donna Van Dreumel

 

* Refinery owners have changed over the years. For purposes of these pages, the owner at the time was identified. For clarity, ownership history is as follows:

Texaco - Opened in 1957. Became Equilon in 1999 through a partnership with Shell. Shell bought out Texaco's interest and the site became wholly owned by Shell in 2002.

Shell - Opened in 1955. Regulations forced the sale of this refinery in 1999 due to the Shell/Texaco partnership. Tesoro became the owner in 1999.