On February 1, the Martinez Refining Co.’s petroleum refinery reported a fire around 1:45 p.m. But the wider community was not officially informed of the blaze until many hours after the Bay Area Air District began receiving complaints of odors in the area. The fire sent plumes of black smoke into the air for hours and forced much of Martinez, California, and the surrounding communities of Pacheco and Clyde, to shelter in place until late that Saturday night.
The fire started from an explosion that occurred during routine maintenance. Following the blast, six refinery workers were immediately hospitalized due to exposure to chemicals released in the air. The company published a report on social media on February 28 listing the various toxic chemicals that the fire released into the air of neighboring communities, including more than 7,000 gallons of hydrocarbon materials. According to the National Cancer Institute, exposure to hydrocarbons can increase the risk of certain types of cancers.
Since the fire, the factory has been closed as the company works to repair the damage. So now a company that offers a livelihood to workers in the community is shattered. And with the refinery shut, gas prices have soared in the surrounding area. This fire has impacted the employees, their families, and community members in multiple, egregious ways.
Under this capitalist system, we are expected to push ourselves to the brink on the job. This can lead to burnout, stress, and overwork that is never appreciated by the boss, and is often not valued or significantly salaried. But certain jobs under this system are more than just aggravating, they can lead to long-term health consequences or even death.
Greedy corporate leaders and their accomplices in government make decisions to line their pockets. What results is a terrible work environment, underpay, understaffing, and long lasting consequences for working people and their families. We, the working class, are many, and the capitalist class are few. We have the power to organize against them and make a safer, healthier world.
