Even though one-third of the oil refineries in the United States are using the chemical, Murray told ABC News that the industry has long avoided demands from safety advocates and from the union that represents refinery workers that it explore safer options.
CLICK HERE to learn what you can do if toxic gas escapes from your local oil refinery.
\"For three hours of revenue an oil company can change the use of hydrofluoric acid to make it safer for the workers and the community,\" Murray said. \"Certainly that kind of investment assures people are safe when they go to work and the communities, the people who live around those refineries, are protected. It's worth it.\"
Sunoco disputes Jamison's claim that he suffered permanent lung and heart damage in the accident, and the two parties are now in court. Federal investigators found that the company had failed to address leaks in the acid storage unit that had been a recurring problem for decades. In a statement to ABC News, Sunoco said it has since invested $200 million in improving the safety and reliability of the equipment involved in the use and storage of hydrofluoric acid, \"state-of-the-art technology\" that it says will help avoid another accident.","publishedDate":"2010-03-19T17:41:18Z","contributors":[{"name":"ABC News","url":"","role":"","logo":"","logoAlt":""}],"authorsStr":"ABC News","modifiedDate":"2011-03-01T18:11:30Z","section":"Blotter","wordCount":469,"relatedTags":{"heading":"Related Topics","tags":[]},"lead":{"ratio":"16x9","disableForMobile":false,"type":"xl","mediaType":"image","alignCaptionToBody":true},"ads":{"Sticky":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"RightRail":{"kvps":{"test":true}},"InlineBox":{},"InlineOutstream":{"disabled":false},"Taboola":{"position":"bottom","pageType":"article","config":{"network":"abcnews-abcnews","mode":"thumbnails-a","container":"taboola-below-article-thumbnails","type":"article","targetType":"mix","placement":"Below Article Thumbnails"}}},"featuredVideo":null,"featuredImage":{},"dateline":"Feb. 24, 2011 ","seo":{},"LivePromotion":{},"isShared":false},"autoUpdate":{"enabled":false,"topics":["general-elections-2020-balance-of-power"]}},"upw":{"balanceOfPower":{"electoral":{"header":"Biden Projected to be President-Elect","winningParty":"democrats","candidates":{"democrats":{"id":1036,"displayName":"Joe Biden","shortDisplayName":"J. 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