An unsafe work environment can lead to serious injuries and even death. This is why it's so important that employers follow the workplace health and safety regulations required under state and federal law.

An example of an unsafe work environment is one where workers are exposed to harmful chemicals or fumes that can cause serious health effects, even if the symptoms don't show up for several months or years down the road.

A former worker at a refinery in Port Neches, Texas, has sued his former employers based on his exposure to chemicals at work that he contends were carcinogenic. According to the lawsuit, his exposure to such materials throughout his career, from 1966 through 1997, allegedly caused him to develop bladder cancer.

The plaintiff was employed as a machinist and mechanic at an Ameripol-Synpol Corp. and Texas U.S. refining facility. Nitrate chemicals allegedly present in the workplace resulted in his bladder cancer, he claims in his federal lawsuit.

A large number of oil companies whose products were processed at the refinery are also named as defendants.

The former refinery worker claims that his ex-employers and the other named defendants failed to properly warn him of the risk that he faced of developing cancer from exposure to the chemicals, as well as failing to mandate the use of proper protective gear and other safety precautions for refinery workers.

He also claims that the defendants should have monitored refinery workers for adverse health effects from exposure to nitrates and should have engaged in more testing as to whether the chemicals being used would have a carcinogenic effect.

The personal injury lawsuit seeks damages for mental anguish, physical pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost income, and disfigurement. The lawsuit also asserts claims on behalf of his wife for loss of consortium.

Theories of liability in the lawsuit include fraudulent concealment, intentional conduct, gross negligence, negligence, and strict liability.

Source: The Southeast Texas Record, "Suit blames man's bladder cancer on refinery chemicals," Kelly Holleran, Nov. 28, 2011