Workplace Explosion Attorneys Helping Workers Nationwide and Across Texas including Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio
Workplace accidents involving serious bodily injuries sustained from fires, chemical release, or explosions in the workplace are a dramatic example of the dangers faced by workers in many fields. While these types of accidents may be rare, they unfortunately do happen and the injuries they cause can be catastrophic. Workplace explosions are unique in both the severity of injury that can be caused and for their ability to seriously injure multiple people at the same time. However, the average person is likely unaware of their own risk of facing an explosion at work.
Because workplace explosions are a danger many workers face in their everyday lives it is important to understand who is liable for these accidents and who you can sue in the event you are a victim of one.
Certain industries and jobs may be more at risk for explosions than others. Workplaces facing the highest risk of explosions include:
- Chemical plants
- Construction
- Manufacturing plants
- Mining operations
- Oil and gas industry
Although these are the most common occurrences for workplace explosions, it is important to note that an explosion can occur in any workplace, including office buildings, warehouses, and factories.
Each workplace explosion has several characteristics to consider which depends on the type of explosives involved, the amount of materials that blew up, whether the blast was indoors or outdoors, the proximity of the victim(s) to the explosion, and any contributing environmental hazards.
Factors that cause workplace explosions and fires include:
1. Flammables and Combustibles
Flammables are materials that easily catch fire, such as paint and certain chemicals. Combustibles include things such as wood, lumber, paper, drywall, and anything made of plastic.
2. Electricity
Electrical accidents can result in explosions or fires when an electric current becomes so great that electric arcs are formed. When volatile chemicals are nearby, these explosions can be massive.
3. Explosives and Blasting Agents
Specially trained workers with job titles such as Blaster, Explosive Technician, and Powderman are tasked with using explosives and blasting agents on the job site to take down existing buildings or structures, or to help establish the site by displacing or removing things like stone and rock. Defective tools and equipment, or the improper use or storage of explosive materials can cause a serious explosion or fire.
Employers have a legal duty imposed on them to make sure that workers are safe on the job site from the risk of serious harm or death from explosives. Important safety precautions must be implemented in the workplace to prevent explosions and to minimize the damage if one should occur. Employers should make sure that employees in range of dangerous explosives or hazardous chemicals are trained in the risks they are facing as well as provided with appropriate and well-maintained safety gear such as hard hats, goggles, gloves, and steel-toed boots.
Workplace Explosion Injuries
Burn injuries are one of the most common results of an explosion, but an explosion can also cause other dangerous and life-threatening medical consequences. Pressure from an explosion can damage a worker’s ears, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. Flying debris can cause lacerations, internal bleeding, and head trauma, among other damages. Workers are also often knocked over by the force of the blast, and can be thrown against each other, industrial machinery, or other objects.
Justice for Victims of Workplace Explosions and Fires
Unfortunately, there are many supervisors, managers, and corporate heads who choose not to take the necessary steps to keep employees safe from harm while on the job site. They may believe cutting back on training, equipment, repair, or maintenance will save money, but they will eventually find that the heightened risk of a serious or deadly explosion can have tragic consequences.
State laws are put in place to protect workers in the event their employer has violated legal duties of safety and care which have caused a fire or explosion on the worksite. In some instances, legal claims may also be available against product manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service companies, and others whose actions or failures to act have resulted in the severe or deadly accident.
Contact Our Workplace Explosion Attorneys Serving Across Texas and Nationwide
Explosions may not be the most common cause of injuries in the workplace, but they occur regularly and can lead to devastating injuries or death for workers in many fields. If you or a loved one has been injured in an explosion at work, you may have grounds to seek compensation. At Leger Ketchum & Cohoon, PLLC, our workplace explosion attorneys have aided workers from a wide array of career fields, and we stand ready to review your case with you. You can contact us by phone at 832.764.7200, email at info@lkclawfirm.com, or by our online contact form.