Contract worker falls to death in Louisiana refinery

The body of a contract worker at a Louisiana refinery has been recovered days after a fatal fall.

Phillips 66 spokesman Dennis Nuss says a HydroChemPSC employee in Belle Chasse, fell into the 15-foot-deep water basin of the refinery’s primary cooling tower on Wednesday night.

Attempts to recover the worker were unsuccessful, leading to the beginning of a 48-hour shutdown process to allow emergency responders safe access.

The shutdown was completed Wednesday night, when the worker’s remains were recovered and turned over to the Plaquemines Parish coroner. Phillips 66 says it’s investigating the cause of the accident.

The company hasn’t released the worker’s name.