Safety

At CITGO, safety is a foundational value woven into every decision we make. 

From our refineries to our offices, we empower everyone to lead with safety.

Our goal is simple: zero incidents, every day. Through training, clear expectations, and a speak-up culture, we ensure everyone plays a role in protecting themselves, their teams, and the communities we serve.

Safety review
CITGO employee radioing in
CITGO Refinery worker

6 Core Principles

A Culture Built on Accountability & Action

Our safety is guided by six core principles: informed, reporting, learning, flexible, committed, and action oriented.

These behaviors empower team members to identify risks, take initiative, and stop work when needed—no questions asked. Every voice matters in preventing incidents and improving outcomes, whether during routine tasks or emergency response. We expect and encourage everyone to lead with integrity and care.

9 Life-Critical Safety Rules

To reinforce our safety-first mindset, we follow 9-Life Critical Safety Rules that apply to everyone on our sites.

Valid permit

Work with a valid permit when required.

Verification

Verify isolation and zero energy before beginning work.

Authorization

Obtain authorization before entering confined spaces.

PPE

Use specialized life-critical PPE when required.

Protection

Protect yourself from a fall when working at height.

Plan

Plan lifting operations and control the area.

Bypassing

Obtain authorization before disabling, overriding or bypassing a safety system.

Safeguards

Do not leave the area with known hazards and without proper safeguards.

Safety

Keep yourself and others out of the line of fire.

Awards & Recognition

Recognized for Our Commitment to Safety

Our strong safety culture is reflected in industry recognition for safety performance and accountability.

Safety awards 1
Safety awards 2
Safety awards 3
  • Safety Achievement Award from American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) (2021)
  • AP Networks Award for Turnaround Excellence for the Alky/SHU turnaround at Lake Charles (2021)
  • Safety Achievement Award from American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) (2021)
  • Safety Excellence Award from the International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) in recognition of standout safety performance (2021)
  • CSX Railroad Chemical Safety Excellence Award for outstanding dedication to safe transportation of hazardous materials (2023)
  • Outstanding Safety Performance award from the Three Rivers Manufacturers Association for the Lemont Refinery (2023)
  • Pinnacle Award from the Union Pacific Railroad for safe chemical transportation (2023)
  • Air Quality Excellence Award from the Mecklenburg Air Quality Board (Charlotte Terminal) (2023)
  • First-ever ILTA Distinguished Service Award presented to Jack McCrossin (2023)
  • ILTA (International Liquid Terminal Association) Safety Excellence Award (2023)
  • Safety Excellence Award from the International Liquid Terminals Association (ILTA) in recognition of an outstanding safety performance (2023)
  • Three Rivers Manufacturers Association (TRMA) Partnership Award for Outstanding Safety Performance (2024)
  • American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) Safety Achievement Award (2024)
  • Canadian National’s (CN) Safe Handling Award (2024)
  • Union Pacific’s Pinnacle Award (2024)
  • CSX’s Chemical Safety Excellence Award (2024)

This list highlights select awards earned over a five‑year period.