A serious industrial accident at the Martin Asphalt facility in South Houston killed one worker and spilled liquid tar into nearby streets and drainage channels. Harris County Pollution Control Services (PCS) immediately responded with air quality monitoring throughout the affected area. This incident shows how our local environmental protection systems work when industrial accidents threaten our communities. Environmental monitoring protects residents from dangerous air pollution after industrial spills. PCS conducts real-time testing to detect harmful chemicals that could affect breathing, skin, and overall health. When accidents happen at facilities near homes, quick response prevents wider community harm. South Houston residents live near many industrial facilities that handle hazardous materials. This makes environmental monitoring essential for protecting families and workers. Cleanup crews worked to remove tar from streets and drainage systems that connect to our waterways. Residents experienced symptoms like headaches and skin irritation, showing why monitoring matters for community health. When industrial accidents occur in your neighborhood, contact Harris County Pollution Control Services at 713-920-2831 to report air quality concerns or health symptoms. You can also call 311 for non-emergency environmental issues. Stay informed about incidents near your home by following Harris County emergency alerts and attending community meetings about industrial safety in your area.
A liquid tar spill killed a man at the Martin Asphalt facility in the City of South Houston on Wednesday afternoon, according to the company.
The leak occurred at Martin Asphalt Facility around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, ABC 13 reported.
"Emergency response procedures were initiated and local emergency responders were notified and responded to the site," Martin Asphalt told Houston Public Media in a statement. "This is a tragic situation, and we are treating it with the utmost seriousness at every level of our company."
The company said a cause had not been determined and additional details were being withheld "out of respect for the individual and their family, and to preserve the integrity of the ongoing review processes."
Laylow Martinez, a nearby resident, told a Houston Public Media reporter that he began feeling sick after workers sprayed water on the tar on Thursday.
"I’m getting headaches, sweating, heat flashes, skin irritation," Martinez said. "We had asphalt up to our apartments ... so, it’s like literally getting inches from water (being) inside my room now. That’s where my main concern is."
In a statement, a Harris County Pollution Control Services (PCS) spokesperson said, "PCS conducted air monitoring throughout the incident area. No airborne contaminants were detected."
On Thursday afternoon, a Houston Public Media reporter observed multiple cleanup workers working to clean up tar from nearby streets and a neighboring drainage channel.
