Arnold & Itkin Files Lawsuit for Workers Injured in ONEOK Plant Explosion in Mont Belvieu, TX

Arnold & Itkin has filed a lawsuit on behalf of three workers injured in the October 6 explosion and fire at the ONEOK plant in Mont Belvieu, Texas. The suit names ONEOK, as well as 4D Construction Services and Grizzly Industrial Group, as defendants, alleging that unsafe conditions, poor training, and negligent oversight led to the blast.

The workers were performing maintenance and construction work when the plant’s heating system erupted in flames. The explosion tore through the facility, leaving the men with lasting physical injuries, emotional trauma, and mounting medical costs.

Arnold & Itkin attorney Cory Itkin, who represents the injured workers, said incidents like this one are never random. "Everyone walks through the gate in the morning when they report to work expecting to walk out…in the same condition they showed up…and ultimately they rely on the facility owner to make sure that happens," Itkin said. "ONEOK failed in that responsibility."

The lawsuit seeks more than $1 million in damages, noting that the workers’ injuries are indefinite and that the companies’ disregard for safety placed profits before people. Despite company statements minimizing the extent of harm, the complaint describes the men’s pain, physical impairment, and mental anguish as severe and ongoing.

Texas has seen a troubling rise in industrial explosions this year, with at least five other chemical plant incidents resulting in worker injuries, according to the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters. Each case is a reminder that safety failures at these massive facilities can have devastating consequences for those just trying to earn a living.

"Accidents like this don’t just happen," Itkin said. "They only happen because those rules aren't being followed."

At Arnold & Itkin, we’re proud to fight for workers whose lives have been upended by preventable industrial disasters. Companies must be held accountable when they put production ahead of safety. Our clients deserve answers—and justice—no matter what.