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Port Allen Refinery

The Placid Refining Company owns a single plant that produces and manufactures a variety of fuels, and it is located in Port Allen, Louisiana. Placid purchased the refinery in 1975, and as of 2006 they have embarked on a plan to nearly double the output capability of the plant. As of this time, the site is able to produce up to 48,500 barrels of crude oil per day, and by 2010 they hope to increase that number to 80,000 barrels. This will be a $300 million project.

Public safety and the well being of every employee is a major concern for the Placid Refining Company. The company has implemented safety and anti pollution policies to maintain a secure and environmentally friendly environment. Their efforts were rewarded in March of 2007, when they were recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) special Voluntary Protection Programs (VPP) as a Star Site. This prestigious award is only given to refineries that display an exemplary track record in safety practices and a lower than average number of sick days for their employees. Previously, the refinery had also won the National Petrochemical & Refiners Association Distinguished Safety Award in 2006. This award is the highest honor any refining facility may receive.

Port Allen's plant has managed to avoid any serious incidents from fires within the facility, but that has not stopped them from preparing for any eventuality. In 2006, plant owners purchased a high tech fire engine that is able to pump 2,250 gallons of water per minute, hold up to 1,000 gallons of foam and has 5,000 feet of hose. This advanced piece of equipment will of great use during any potential emergency situation.

Although the Port Allen facility has a long standing record of good health and safety practices, there is one notable black mark on the plant's history. As with most other refineries, this one utilized a variety of products that were created out of a naturally occurring material called asbestos. Asbestos was at one time a key component in many items, particularly those that were used within a very high temperature environment. Eventually, however, asbestos became recognized as a highly toxic material that causes damage to the respiratory system and may lead to the development of a cancerous disease known as mesothelioma. These are very serious health situations, and they can be life threatening, so any person who worked at the plant while products made out of asbestos were in use should notify their healthcare provider and set up an appointment to discuss their possible exposure to asbestos.

Last modified: December 09 2009.