OSHA Cites Florida Petroleum Tank Contractor After Worker Dies from Benzene and Toluene Exposure

Worker Dies After Entering Fuel Tank Without Safety Protocols

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited PCE Petroleum Contractors Enterprises Inc., based in Land O' Lakes, Florida, on March 3, 2026, after an employee died from exposure to toxic chemicals. According to OSHA's news release, the worker entered a fuel storage tank at a job site in Lake Worth, Florida, in July 2025 without the basic safety measures required for confined-space entry.

OSHA investigators found the company had no written permit-required confined space entry program in place. No atmospheric evaluation was conducted before the worker entered the tank — a step that would have detected dangerous concentrations of benzene and toluene vapor. The worker was fatally exposed to both chemicals.

12 Serious Violations and $60,242 in Proposed Penalties

OSHA issued 12 serious citations to PCE Petroleum Contractors Enterprises. The violations centered on failures in three core areas:

• Confined-space entry: No written permit-required confined space program, no atmospheric testing before entry, and no rescue procedures
• Respiratory protection: No written respiratory protection program, meaning workers had no proper equipment or training for environments with toxic vapors
• Hazard communication: Inadequate hazard communication program — workers were unaware of the specific chemical hazards and exposure symptoms associated with benzene and toluene

OSHA proposed $60,242 in penalties. PCE Petroleum Contractors Enterprises has contested the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, where penalties and citations may be adjusted during proceedings.

Benzene and Toluene: Why These Chemicals Are Dangerous in Enclosed Spaces

Benzene and toluene are both volatile organic compounds commonly found in petroleum products. In enclosed spaces like fuel storage tanks, their vapors can reach lethal concentrations within minutes.

Benzene is a known human carcinogen classified by OSHA, the EPA, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Short-term exposure to high concentrations can cause drowsiness, dizziness, unconsciousness, and death. OSHA's permissible exposure limit for benzene is 1 ppm as an 8-hour time-weighted average.

Toluene causes central nervous system depression at high concentrations. OSHA's PEL for toluene is 200 ppm. In a confined space with no ventilation, petroleum vapor concentrations can exceed safe limits by orders of magnitude.

What Employers Must Do Before Confined-Space Entry

OSHA's confined-space standards (29 CFR 1910.146) require employers to:

• Evaluate the workplace to identify all permit-required confined spaces
• Develop a written confined-space entry program before any entry occurs
• Test atmospheric conditions — oxygen levels, flammable gases, and toxic vapors — before and during entry
• Provide appropriate personal protective equipment, including respiratory protection
• Have rescue procedures and trained rescue personnel available
• Train all workers who enter or attend confined spaces on the specific hazards they will face

Petroleum tank cleaning and maintenance is consistently one of the highest-risk confined-space activities. OSHA data shows that confined-space incidents account for roughly 90 worker deaths per year in the United States, with atmospheric hazards — particularly toxic vapors and oxygen deficiency — responsible for the majority of fatalities.