Toxic Exposure

By Joshua Seemungal

Senior Investigative Journalist

[email protected]

A former quality assurance inspector who was exposed to the toxic chemical benzene while working on Shell T&T’s Dolphin natural gas platform has taken Shell and its contractor, Massy Wood Group, to the Industrial Court. He accuses the companies of putting his life at risk and ending his career in the oil and gas sector.

The incident was never reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Authority (OSHA) or the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries, as required under Shell’s Licensee Certificate Agreement. Instead, the inspector filed the report himself with OSHA, the Ministry of Labour, and the Energy Ministry.

“It has been a rough time trying to fight these corporate giants. From then to now, I have been fighting this basically by myself,” he told Guardian Media.

He added: “I can no longer work in the oil and gas industry or risk exposure to substances that could affect my breathing. I suffer from shortness of breath and palpitations, and the worst-case scenario is cancer.”

The dangers of benzene

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention warns that benzene exposure can cause dizziness, irregular heartbeat, tremors, unconsciousness and, at high levels, death. Long-term exposure reduces red blood cell production, damages the immune system, and raises the risk of leukaemia.

Cancer.org notes that rates of leukaemia are significantly higher among workers in industries where benzene exposure is common, such as oil refining.

The inspector, whose name has been withheld, was instructed by Massy Wood in May 2021 to inspect pipes and flanges on the Dolphin platform.

He recalled: “One of the HSE advisors called out to me and asked what I was doing there. I told him I was inspecting pipes and flanges before they installed new valves. He said everyone working there was supposed to have a respirator. No one had told me that.”

The inspector admitted he had not undergone respirator fit-test training and had begun experiencing dizziness and headaches. He was advised to move to the open deck for fresh air.

An OSHA investigative report later confirmed he had not been provided with a respirator and was exposed to a petrochemical containing benzene. He soon developed chest pains, fever, and heart palpitations before being medically evacuated from the platform.

He described the experience as life-threatening: “If I had been up there a few minutes more, I would have been taken off in a body bag. I was medevaced without a medic or HSSE officer in the helicopter.”

Instead of being transported to a hospital, he was taken to the private home of the company doctor.

OSHA findings

OSHA’s investigation found the complaint was justified. It noted Massy Wood failed to submit the required incident report form. When asked why, a Massy Wood manager reportedly said “no accident occurred.” OSHA investigators disagreed, pointing out that medical treatment had been sought and therefore a Form 3 report was legally required.

OSHA also found that at the time of the incident, benzene levels in the area were measured at 8–10 parts per million (ppm)—above Shell’s occupational exposure limit. By US OSHA standards, any exposure above 5 ppm over 15 minutes is considered hazardous, even with protective equipment. The inspector, without PPE, was allegedly exposed for 45 minutes.

He further claimed that readings may have been higher since he was present shortly after defective valves were removed, when pipelines had not been vented or purged of residual gas.

However, in a 2023 update, OSHA softened its stance, noting that the incident had been reported 17 months late, limiting investigation. It said company records suggested the gas release was “controlled” and that “none of the medical reports corroborated benzene exposure or injury.”

At the time of the incident, one Massy Wood employee sat on OSHA’s board. One of Massy Wood’s occupational health providers was also a board member.

Company responses

Massy Wood declined to comment, saying only that it respected the judicial process and would allow the matter to proceed in court.

Shell said: “The claims were investigated by both Shell and Massy Wood Group, and to date, have been found to be unsubstantiated. The claimant has also initiated litigation in this matter. As this is an ongoing court matter, we are unable to comment further.”

Wider safety concerns

Between 2018 and 2024, OSHA recorded 9,154 incidents, including 389 critical accidents and 92 fatalities. Of these, 269 incidents occurred in the electricity and gas sectors.

A 2019 study found that air pollutants such as benzene, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide regularly exceeded World Health Organisation safety guidelines in T&T.

Former OSHA inspector Safraz Ali has also accused authorities of neglect, claiming offshore inspections requiring helicopter access had not been carried out since 2022.

Globally, fossil fuel companies have long faced accusations of downplaying benzene’s risks. A 2017 peer-reviewed study found industry-funded research was deliberately shaped to protect company interests while minimising links between benzene and disease—despite decades of evidence to the contrary.

Past oil and gas accidents (Put in box)

Aug 2004: Gas-line explosion on a Trinmar platform killed one, injured four.

Oct 2004: 100 workers evacuated from Trinmar offshore platform due to gas fumes.

Jun 2011: BP shut down Mahogany A platform to improve safety standards.

Jun 2017: A Massy worker was killed, another injured in an ammonia cylinder rupture. OSHA fined Massy $200,000 in 2020.

Jan 2020: Fire on Teak AD platform injured three workers.

Apr 2023: Fire on Trinity E&P’s Bravo platform caused minor injuries, halted production.

Jun 2023: Pipefitter Allanlane Ramkissoon, employed by Massy Energy Engineered Solutions Ltd, was killed.

Dec 2024: Rig worker Pete Phillip killed in partial collapse of Rig 110.