Shutdowns · Turnarounds · Outages — Gulf Coast
Turnaround & Shutdown Staffing for Houston and the Ship Channel
Shutdown, turnaround and outage staffing for Houston, the Ship Channel, Baytown, Texas City and Freeport — vetted trades and two dedicated points of contact from Craftsman & Labor Solutions.
The market
Industrial outages in Houston
The Houston Ship Channel and the plants strung along it — from Pasadena and Deer Park out to Baytown, with the Mont Belvieu storage and fractionation hub just beyond, then south to Texas City and Freeport — make up one of the densest concentrations of refining and petrochemical capacity in the world. Turnaround season here is crowded: many units come down in the same spring and fall windows, and the same pool of craft labor gets pulled in every direction. CLS mobilizes vetted crews from outside that local pool so your outage is not competing for the same names as the plant next door. Coverage runs from the SH-225 and Bayport Industrial District plants in Southeast Harris County down to Chocolate Bayou and the Brazosport plants around Freeport, Clute and Lake Jackson. CLS plans the crew around the site and its turnaround window, not around one ZIP code.
How we staff Houston
Craftsman & Labor Solutions is headquartered in Aiken, SC. We do not keep a branch in Houston — we mobilize vetted crews from a nationwide network of trusted contractors, and the same headquarters team runs your project from the first scope call to the final shift. Travel is planned into the staging, which is why sharing dates early matters.
What runs here
Facilities we staff in Houston
Refining
Unit turnarounds and catalyst change-outs where permits, schedules and restart dates leave no room for a short crew.
Petrochemical & chemical
Olefins, polymers and specialty chemical plants along the Ship Channel and in Freeport, with tight safety cultures and long permit processes.
Midstream & storage
Tank farms, fractionation and terminal work at the Mont Belvieu hub and along the channel.
Why CLS is different
People Who Stay Accountable
We do not hand you a list of names, send workers to the jobsite, and disappear. Every Houston shutdown is supported by two dedicated points of contact who stay involved, communicate with your team, and take ownership of the outcome alongside you.
A knowledgeable coordinator
Learns your scope, plans trades, headcount and shifts with you, and stages the crew before day one.
A hands-on on-site overseer
Involved in worker assignments and project progress on the ground — accountable for the crew, not signed up and gone.
Crafts we supply
The crew for your outage
- Welders
Structural and repair welding on equipment opened up during the outage.
- Millwrights
Pumps, compressors, rotating equipment, alignment and reassembly.
- Carpenters
Temporary structures, access, platforms and the carpentry that supports the work.
- Plumbers
Water, drain and utility piping work tied to the outage scope.
- General labor & helpers
Material handling, staging, housekeeping, fire and hole watch support, cleanup and demob.
Every worker is covered by CLS workers' comp and liability, briefed on site hazards, and backed by stop-work authority.
Travel for turnaround work in Houston? Get on our call list →Questions
Houston shutdown staffing — FAQ
+Can CLS staff a Houston Ship Channel turnaround during peak season?
Yes. Peak spring and fall windows are exactly when local craft labor is stretched thinnest. CLS draws on a nationwide network of contractors and mobilizes them to the channel, so the earlier you share scope and dates, the more of the crew we can stage ahead of start.
+Do you cover Baytown, Texas City and Freeport, or only Houston proper?
The whole market — Pasadena, Deer Park, La Porte, Channelview, Baytown, Mont Belvieu, Texas City and Freeport are all part of how we plan Houston-area outages.
+Do you cover Brazosport and Chocolate Bayou as well as the Ship Channel?
Yes. Freeport, Clute, Lake Jackson and the Chocolate Bayou area in Brazoria County are planned as part of the Houston market, along with Pasadena, Deer Park, La Porte, Baytown and Texas City.
+Does Craftsman & Labor Solutions have an office in Houston?
No. CLS is headquartered in Aiken, South Carolina, and mobilizes shutdown, turnaround and outage crews to Houston and plants across the country. Every project is run by the same headquarters team — two dedicated points of contact who stay involved from the first scope call to the final shift.
+What trades can CLS supply for a Houston shutdown?
Welders, millwrights, carpenters, plumbers, and general labor and helpers for staging, material handling, fire and hole watch support, housekeeping and demob. Tell us the scope and we will build the craft mix and headcount with you.
+How far ahead should we plan a Houston turnaround with CLS?
As early as you have dates and a rough scope. Timelines depend on the trades, headcount and site requirements, so CLS quotes a specific plan per project rather than a blanket promise — and short-notice call-outs are handled the same way, honestly and quickly.
More of the Gulf Coast
Other Gulf Coast markets we mobilize to
Planning an outage in Houston?
Tell us the scope and dates — your coordinator will stage the crew. Skilled trades who travel for outage work can get on our call list, too.