Chemical gas exposure remains one of the most serious and underestimated threats to workers in Houston’s industrial economy. The city’s refineries, chemical plants, and construction sites rely on a few critical gases that are used in any number of processes. However, these gases can cause serious damage within seconds if containment systems fail. Invisible leaks, confined workspaces, and inadequate ventilation combine to create conditions where workers may wind up breathing toxic fumes with zero warning. Exposure to these gases often results in chemical burns, respiratory damage, neurological injury, or death.

Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S): The “Silent Killer” of Oil and Gas Operations

Hydrogen sulfide is among the most dangerous gases found in Texas’s oil fields and refineries and the most widely reported. It is produced naturally during the breakdown of organic material in crude oil and natural gas and is released during drilling and refining. The gas has a distinct odor at very low concentrations, but this smell quickly disappears at higher levels because it paralyzes the sense of smell. It is this paralysis of smell that creates a false sense of safety that has led to many fatal incidents.

Workers exposed to hydrogen sulfide may experience eye irritation, coughing, dizziness, and shortness of breath within seconds. At higher concentrations, the gas interferes with the body’s ability to use oxygen, causing respiratory paralysis and loss of consciousness. Death can occur after only a few breaths. Survivors often suffer long-term lung damage or brain injury from oxygen deprivation. H₂S is especially dangerous in confined spaces such as storage tanks, pipelines, and wellheads where the gas can accumulate undetected.

Carbon Monoxide (CO): The Invisible Asphyxiant

Carbon monoxide is another colorless and odorless gas that poses extreme danger in industrial and construction environments. It is produced whenever fuels such as gasoline, diesel, or propane burn incompletely. Workers who use gas-powered tools, engines, or forklifts indoors or in enclosed areas are at high risk.

When inhaled, carbon monoxide binds to hemoglobin in the blood far more readily than oxygen does. This prevents oxygen from reaching the brain, heart, and other vital organs. The result is cellular suffocation even though the air appears normal. Early symptoms such as headache, dizziness, and nausea can be mistaken for heat stress or fatigue, which delays treatment. Continued exposure can cause memory loss, heart damage, or death. Long-term survivors often suffer cognitive and cardiovascular problems that persist for years.

Ammonia: A Corrosive Industrial Gas

Ammonia is widely used in refrigeration systems, fertilizers, and chemical manufacturing throughout Houston’s industrial corridor. It is a highly corrosive and reactive gas that causes immediate burns on contact. When released from pressurized tanks, ammonia expands rapidly and can displace oxygen, making it both a toxic and suffocating hazard.

Exposure to ammonia gas damages the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Workers may experience painful burning sensations, severe coughing, or choking. In serious cases, contact leads to permanent blindness or lung scarring. Because ammonia dissolves easily in moisture, it reacts with water in the eyes and lungs to form caustic solutions that destroy tissue. Accidental releases have occurred in cold-storage facilities, fertilizer plants, and maintenance yards, sometimes resulting in explosions when mixed with air.

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Chlorine and Sulfur Dioxide: Toxic by Design

Chlorine and sulfur dioxide are intentionally manufactured gases used in chemical production, water treatment, and disinfection. Both are extremely irritating to human tissue. When inhaled, these gases react with moisture in the respiratory system to form acids that burn the airways. In some ways, chlorine and sulfur dioxide are slightly safer than carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide for the simple reason that it is so easily detectable.

Workers exposed to chlorine or sulfur dioxide often report immediate coughing, chest tightness, and tearing eyes. Within minutes, the gases cause pulmonary edema, a condition in which fluid fills the lungs and blocks oxygen flow. Even a single high-level exposure can result in permanent lung damage, chemical burns, and chronic breathing disorders. Cleanup crews, water treatment employees, and refinery workers are among those most at risk.

What Workers Should Do After a Gas Exposure

If you a gas leak is reported, or if you begin to feel one of the side effects listed above, your first priority is to reach clean air. Staying in the contaminated area, even briefly, can worsen your injury. Once outside the hazard zone, alert the other workers, notify supervisors, and call 911 or on-site emergency responders. If you have suffered an obvious (coughing, sudden, congestion, shortness of breath) onsite injury, file an injury notice with your supervisor and go to the local clinic or hospital.

Remove any contaminated clothing carefully to avoid spreading the gas to others, and flush your exposed skin and eyes with clean water for at least fifteen minutes if irritation or burning occurs. Resist the temptation to rub your eyes, and keep your hands away from your face (except when flushing your skin). Report even mild symptoms, since delayed effects like lung inflammation or neurological impairment are common. Even if you feel fine after the incident, you should still receive a medical exam – many of the injuries inflicted by gases can take time to manifest, and the best tool you can have is documentation. Medical professionals can determine the specific type and severity of exposure through blood tests, imaging, and respiratory evaluation.

Legal Options After Exposure

When a chemical gas leak results from negligence, poor maintenance, or safety violations, injured workers have the right to pursue recovery. Liability in chemical exposure cases often rests with the employer, a contractor, or the company responsible for equipment maintenance or chemical storage. The Law Offices of Hilda Sibrian represents workers across Houston who have been injured by toxic gas exposure. Our team investigates the source of each leak, works with experts to identify responsible parties, and forces insurance companies to repair the damage their clients have caused to our victims and their families.

If you or someone you know has suffered chemical exposure at a worksite, call 713-714-1414 or contact us online for a free consultation.