Industrial Accident Lawyer Blog

MFG Chemical has agreed to pay $270,000 in civil penalties to resolve claims arising out of a chemical release at a Dalton, Georgia facility. The chemical release resulted in workplace injuries and Georgia workers' comp claims related to the inhalation of hydrochloric acid which was released. MFG did not adhere to guidelines under the Clean Air Act which required it to exercise extreme caution when handling hydrochloric acid. Had MFG had proper workplace safety mechanisms in place, the Georgia work injury could probably have been avoided.

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A judge has ordered that OSHA attorneys have the right to question Imperial Sugar executives and former employees about the February 7, 2008 refinery explosion in Port Wentworth, Georgia. OSHA lawyers submitted evidence that the witnesses who have been previously deposed have relevant information and should be questioned again. OSHA will likely focus on whether the alleged OSHA violations, which caused numerous Georgia workplace injuries and led to several Savannah workers' compensation claims, were "willful."

The United States Chemical Safety Board has released a video about the dangers of Combustible Dust and how such dust can cause Refinery Explosions and workplace accidents. Combustible dust fires and explosions continue to occur frequently, despite the well known risk combustible dust poses to workers. An excess of combustible sugar dust at the Imperial refinery in Port Wentworth, Georgia caused that facility to explode, killing 14 and injuring dozens more.

The U.S. Department Labor recently issued a scathing report critical of Nevada's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The department of labor looked into Nevada OHSA's handling of 25 work accidents involving fatalities, and found the agency did not properly investigate the workplace accidents or levy the appropriate penalties. Problems with the Nevada OSHA offices ranged from inadequate methods of internal communication to an office-wide policy, in essence, to not issue violations for "willfull" violations of OSHA standards. In half of the cases examined, Nevada OSHA did not tell the family of the worker killed in a construction accident that there was an investigation. This failure violated Nevada law. These findings do not come as a surprise to Atlanta workers compensation attorneys or to lawyers who represent those who have been the victim of a Georgia work injury cases

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OSHA has fined ConocoPhillips for OSHA violations at a refinery in Linden, New Jersey. The four citations received by ConocoPhillips were classified as "serious" and outlined systemic problems at the facility like a lack of guidelines for dangerous work with flammable liquid. An OSHA official noted the violations could have led to a refinery explosion, or second and third degree burns.

A lack of written guidelines for employees and contractors can often lead to a fatal workplace accident or explosion. The Flynn Law Firm is currently involved in workplace explosion litigation in multiple jurisdictions where safety guidelines were either non-existent or not properly communicated to workers.

A Missouri gas can explosion victim who suffered third degree to his burns as a result of what is likely a defective gas can has, incredibly, been denied health benefits because his insurance company says he has a "pre-existing condition." The explosion victim Darian Egan says he feels lucky to be alive and is working on recovery, but now will not be able to work or provide for his family. The denial of health benefits to Mr. Egan or any other burn injury victim is ridiculous and shows just how far the insurance industry will go to make money.

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The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) recently warned industrial workers to not clear natural gas lines indoors. CSB investigators believe the Slim Jim Explosion occurred while contractors installing a water heater vented natural gas inside the building, leading to the explosion which killed three and injured dozens more at the ConAgra Foods plant just south of Raleigh, North Carolina.

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On September 24, 2009, the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigaion Board (CSB) issued its investigation report related to the Imperial Sugar refinery explosion which occurred on February 7, 2008. There are a number of refinery explosion lawyers currently pursing claims against certain companies related to this explosion, and this report is a groudbreaking development in that litigation.

The CSB, in its detailed report, determined that the dust explosion began in an enclosed steel belt conveyor located beneath the sugar silos at the refinery. This enclosure allowed explosive sugar dust to accumulate. When an unknown source ignited the accumulated sugar dust, an explosion occurred.

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