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Workers Injured in a Workplace Explosion Deserve the Best Attorneys Possible to Get the Most Compensation Possible
Industrial workers throughout the country understand well that their jobs often come with inherent risks, especially some of the industrial jobs that pay the most. However, just because a job is risky doesn't mean the worker has given up their right to a safe and secure workplace. That means an employer has a solemn duty to mitigate risks, and to follow all workplace safety regulations to the letter. When any worker is injured on the job, they and the workers around them deserve the full protection of the law, even if their job is considered inherently riskier than that of another worker, and even if they are compensated more to take on the added risk. Workers in many of these industrial plants.
Unfortunately, there have been a few incidents in the last year, in which workers have been seriously injured after an explosion at their workplaces. For instance, back in May, three workers were injured after an explosion at a manufacturing plant in Wisconsin. In addition, three firefighters were also injured while fighting the explosions that same day. Two of the three suffered from heat exhaustion.
Wisconsin Workplace Explosion
According to sources, the initial call was for a fire at Summerset Marine Construction, a business located on Chapman Lane in Eagle, Wisconsin, that manufactures piers and lifts for lakefront services. That fire, however, was quickly followed by a relatively large explosion inside the same building. Local police and fire crews were on the scene within 2-3 minutes , and they learned immediately that all 24 workers in the plant were already out of the building, which was a good thing, since the building's metal foundation had been severely damaged in the initial explosion, to the point firefighters had to fight the fire from outside the building. In all, there were a half-dozen explosions during the next 30 minutes after fire and police showed up to do their work.
Because of the thick smoke emanating from the fire, residents living within a mile of the plant were asked to stay indoors and limit their use of their air conditioners, to limit their exposure to the smoke and polluted air in general.
OSHA Mandates a Safe Workplace
Because so many modern-day workplaces, especially industrial or chemical plants, have significant amounts of risky chemicals, there is an increasing risk for explosions at greater numbers of those types of workplaces. It is simply a fact that more workers at more workplaces than ever find themselves at greater risk than ever. Whereas virtually all workplaces carry a risk of explosion, the workers at industrial or chemical plants are exposed to much higher risks.
This is because the existence of chemicals can create a buildup of gases, a buildup of heat and the potential reactions of some chemicals. Everything taken together means a chemical plant can become a source of potentially serious and consequential explosions, which can result in serious injuries to workers, as well as potentially dangerous property damage. Despite the possible risks, too many employers choose to place profits ahead of safety, giving the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lots of enforcement work to do.
Overall, under OSHA, every employer has a solemn responsibility to ensure that every workplace is a safe and healthy one for every worker. They are required to make sure everyone in the workplace is as safe and secure as possible. OSHA enforces its rules and regulations through stiff fines, citations, and other penalties for any employer who deprives their workers of a completely safe environment.
Among OSHA's general standards include the following, although these are in no way exhaustive:
- Under OSHA, employers must follow all safety and health requirements to create and maintain a safe workplace free of undue hazards.
- Employers must routinely check and maintain safe workplace conditions.
- That means making sure every worker has the proper equipment and safety tools, and always maintained and/or replaced as necessary.
- Employers must warn all workers of all hazards present in every workplace, and make sure they are properly trained to confront them.
- All workers must be properly trained in all relevant health and safety procedures, and they must make sure all workers review these standards with regularity.
- All employers must notify OSHA within 8 hours of any accident that causes three or more injured workers or one fatality.
Major Causes of Industrial Plant Explosions
Poor Workplace Maintenance
Over the years, there have been numerous studies into the causes of explosions at industrial and chemical plants nationwide. One of the most common problems is with the use of chemicals, which require a lot of equipment and tools to be rendered safe and risk-free. The equipment used for safety must be maintained properly and much of it requires workers be properly trained in their proper and safe use. When plant operators flout maintenance and safety regulations or leave workers with outdated or worn equipment that is not properly maintained. Since maintenance workers are expected to constantly inspect all safety equipment and replace the oudated and worn pieces, they often exacerbate risks for other workers.
Poor Industrial Worker Training
All workers in an industrial setting should understand the machinery they work with and the chemicals and other materials they use as part of their job. All workers who with or around combustible materials should be trained to avoid the dangers of combustibility and explosion, and they should know how to avoid any and all potentially hazardous situations.
Unfortunately for many workers, the companies they work with do not treat these hazards with the seriousness they should. Like many companies, they underrate the importance of proper training and knowing how to work safely in an inherently hazardous worksite. This type of attitude too often leads to a devastating accident at the workplace in question, which can lead to severe and debilitating injuries.
All workers at industrial worksites are entitled to training that teaches the following:
- safe work habits
- safety guidelines that can significantly mitigate the risks when working with hazardous materials
- Basic training on emergency responses
- Knowledge of chemical safety hazards and basic control measures for each
- Knowing how to prepare hazardous materials for transportation and knowledge of the documentation relevant to that transportation.
- How to work safely with the electrical equipment at a plant
- How to complete structural and power system checks to enhance the overall safety of an industrial workplace
There are many situations that can lead to an explosion at an industrial plant. That said, some are more common than others. For instance, it's not uncommon for those in charge to lose control of simple fires, which can sometimes lead to much larger explosions. There are just so many reasons for plant explosions cited to write them all off.
Whether an explosion happens because of a boiler that was largely ignored and allowed to go to seed, or there has been some careless smoking going on, that fact of the matter is, most plant explosions are easily preventable, which makes them that much more tragic and actionable when a worker is seriously injured as a result.
If you have been injured in a plant explosion, you have a right to file a lawsuit and get all of the compensation you deserve for your injuries and damages, The Workplace Explosion Attorneys at Lento Law Group have the skills and the experience you need to get the best settlement possible. We know exactly how to protect your rights and make sure all liable parties are held to account for their failures.
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