http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/american_elastomer_products Sat, 21 Nov 2009 07:26:49 -0800 pixel-app en http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12643 Fri, 09 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12643
The man died in the explosion at American Elastomer Products Co., a rubber manufacturing company in the 5300 block of Polk, about 11:40 a.m. Four dozen others who work there escaped without injury.

Today, local authorities and officials from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration will continue their investigation into the accident, which blew out walls and roof portions of the warehouse and rocked the surrounding Central City Industrial Park business complex.

The metal structure of the building remained intact.

A preliminary investigation showed the blast occurred after a piece of equipment, a high-pressure vessel used for the manufacturing of rubber, failed, assistant Houston Fire Chief Omero Longoria said.

"How close he was to it or what the circumstances were, I'm not sure at this time," he said Thursday afternoon.

By late Thursday, officials had not released the man's identity.

Fellow employees described him as a hard worker and a family man.

They said today would have been his last day at the company, where he had worked for almost six months.

"He was only here temporarily," said Anthony Lewis, who has worked at the company for seven years as a shipping clerk. "He was going off to be a truck driver."

As investigators began their investigation Thursday, employees sat somberly behind the building in a shaded area. There, they drank bottled water, ate pizza and mourned the loss of a co-worker.

"He was a real good person and he's going to be missed," Lewis said as he sat in the bed of a truck shaking his head. He said the man performed janitorial-type jobs.

"He was one of the best guys we had here," said Richard Estelle, a 38-year-old press line operator.

The company is among many in the business complex, which also includes a storefront for the Harris County Precinct 6 Constable's office. Deputies in that office, about 150 feet from the blast site, heard a loud explosion, said Lt. Glenn Ellis.

"The blast was significant enough so that every building in the complex shook," Ellis said.

Ellis said the constable's satellite office received reports that people at Jackson Middle School, 5100 Polk, also felt the blast.

Precinct 6 deputies were the first officials at the scene and they quickly evacuated all employees for fear of a secondary explosion, Ellis said.

Elizabeth Razo said she was walking into her office in the warehouse when she felt the building shake. Pieces of wall board and insulation from the ceiling began falling around her.

"I just kept on running," said the 29-year-old woman who works in the company's business office."I wanted to make it out the front door."]]> http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12639 Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/read/12639
The explosion occurred at 11:25 a.m. inside the warehouse of American Elastomer Products. The blast blew out the building's windows as well as some of its walls.

While the warehouse suffered heavy damage, the structural integrity of the building remained sound, said Houston Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Omero Longoria.

One man, whose name was not immediately released, was killed, Longoria said.

No other injuries were reported, and surrounding buildings in the industrial park were not evacuated. No toxic chemicals were released as a result of the blast.

The cause of the explosion is still being investigated but preliminary reports indicate a metal container used in the manufacturing process failed, Longoria said.

About 45 employees work at the warehouse, which is part of Houston-based American Packing and Gasket Co., a fabricator and distributor of hydraulic seals, industrial hose couplings and other rubber products.]]> http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/american_elastomer_products Thu, 08 Mar 2007 00:00:00 -0800 http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/american_elastomer_products American Elastomer Products Houston Texas Warehouse Explosion On March 8, 2007, a Houston, Texas warehouse was evacuated after a deadly explosion. The explosion took place at the manufacturing area of American Elastomer Products, which produces rubber products. Officials said approximately 40 people were evacuated from the complex, and one fatality occurred. The blast is believed to be the result of a high-pressure vessel failure.

Residents said the blast was felt up to as far as a mile away. Other buildings in the industrial park sustained damage, officials said. Witnesses say the explosion destroyed walls and windows and ignited a fire at the warehouse, which is about two miles southeast of downtown. Houston firefighters at first feared a secondary explosion would occur, but that didn't happen. HazMat has determined there's nothing toxic at the scene.

Investigators are working to determine the cause of the explosion. American Elastomer Products is part of Houston-based American Packing and Gasket Co., a fabricator and distributor of hydraulic seals, industrial hose couplings and other rubber products.

Legal Rights for Warehouse Explosion Victims
If you or a loved one suffered serious health ailments as a result of the American Elastomer Products warehouse explosion in Houston, Texas, please fill out the form at the right. Additionally, Call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) for a free case evaluation.]]>