Oil spills don’t just damage marsh grass and kill wildlife. They put workers in direct contact with crude oil, hydrogen sulfide, and dispersants — sometimes for days at a time. If you worked near the TPIC Main Pass 69 facility, responded to the May 2026 spill, or handled any part of the cleanup, your health and your legal rights both deserve immediate attention. I’m Joe Kopfler. I’ve represented offshore workers, dock crews, and longshoremen from my office on Grinage Street in Houma for over thirty years, and I want to give you a straight picture of where you stand.
On May 19, 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard received notification of a crude oil release from an out-of-service tank at the TPIC Main Pass 69 Central facility. An estimated 50 barrels spilled into adjacent marsh, shell beach, and open water along the Louisiana coast. A spill removal organization responded on-site, and NOAA’s Scientific Support Coordinator was activated. Review the full U.S. Coast Guard Main Pass 69 incident report for the official record.
This is not the first serious incident at this location. In November 2023, an 18-inch underwater pipeline in the same area failed and released approximately 1.1 million gallons of crude oil into Gulf of America waters southeast of Venice. The NTSB issued its final report in June 2026. According to the NTSB investigation of the 2023 Main Pass 69 pipeline release, the probable cause was a failed collet grip fitting caused by unaddressed geohazards — and a control room that did not shut the pipeline down for more than eleven hours despite SCADA data signaling a leak. Two major federal incident reports at the same location in three years is a pattern, not a coincidence, and it matters for any worker with exposure claims in this area.
The applicable law depends on your job classification and where you were working. Getting this wrong can cost you your entire claim.
Jones Act — Seamen and Vessel Crew. If you were assigned to a vessel in navigation — a work boat, supply vessel, or crew boat performing spill response — and spent a substantial part of your work time aboard that vessel, you are likely a Jones Act seaman. The Jones Act lets you sue your employer for negligence and recover maintenance and cure regardless of fault. Our Houma Jones Act seaman claims practice handles exactly this type of exposure case. Deadline: three years from the date of injury.
Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act (LHWCA) — Dock Workers and Shoreside Crews. Longshoremen, harbor workers, and marine terminal employees who are not classified as seamen fall under the LHWCA. This federal statute provides workers’ compensation benefits and, in some cases, third-party negligence claims. Critical: written notice to your employer is required within 30 days of injury, and a formal claim must be filed within one year. Missing the notice window can end your case entirely.
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) — Fixed Platform Workers. If you work on a fixed platform or OCS installation, OCSLA may govern your claim and incorporate LHWCA benefits. The USCG Outer Continental Shelf National Center of Expertise oversees safety compliance on these installations, and violations of those standards can support a negligence claim against the operator.
Louisiana State Law. If none of the federal statutes applies, Louisiana tort law may govern. The prescription period is two years from the date of the exposure or discovery of injury. One year closes faster than people expect when you are managing medical appointments and lost income.
If you are not certain which category covers your work, that is common — these classifications overlap. Our Houma maritime injury practice and Houma maritime lawyer pages outline the general framework, but the specifics of your job determine the answer. Call us.
The steps you take in the first days and weeks after exposure can determine whether you have a provable claim. Follow OSHA oil spill response standards and decontamination guidance from the NOAA Office of Response and Restoration — but do not rely on your employer or the responsible party to protect your legal interests at the same time they are managing their own liability.
Get medical attention now. Crude oil exposure can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, and neurological symptoms that do not appear immediately. See a doctor and make sure your visit is documented — including what you were exposed to, for how long, and under what conditions.
Document everything. Write down the date, time, and location of your exposure. Photograph any visible oil contact on your skin, gear, or vessel. Save any text messages, radio communications, or work orders related to the response. Keep copies of your time records placing you on-site. This documentation supports both work boat accident claims and exposure cases alike.
Do not give a recorded statement. If a company representative or insurance adjuster asks for a recorded or written statement about your exposure, decline and contact a lawyer first. Early statements are routinely used to minimize or deny claims.
Maritime and offshore injury law has hard deadlines. Missing them typically means losing your right to recover anything at all.
Jones Act: Three years from the date of injury or discovery of the work-related condition.
LHWCA: Written notice within 30 days of injury; formal claim filed within one year. If you were exposed on May 19, 2026, that 30-day notice window has already closed — the one-year filing deadline is still open, but the clock is running.
Louisiana state law: One year from the date of injury or discovery.
These deadlines run regardless of whether you are still receiving treatment, whether you filed a workers’ compensation claim, or whether anyone has told you that you have a case. The only way to protect yourself is to get a legal evaluation before time runs out.
I have practiced Houma maritime injury law from 306 Grinage Street for over thirty years. Main Pass 69 is not an abstract set of coordinates to me — it is the kind of Gulf worksite my clients have been coming home from their entire careers. If you or someone in your crew was exposed to crude oil or cleanup chemicals during the May 2026 TPIC spill or any response operation in that area, I want to hear what happened.
There is no charge for the initial conversation. Call (985) 851-3311 or schedule a free case review online. Do not wait for symptoms to worsen or for an employer to tell you what your rights are — call us directly.
