Industrial Accident Lawyer Blog

A natural gas explosion ripped through a home Tuesday, destroying the structure and injuring two people. These explosions are more common that one would think, and they can cause massive damage to your home or Georgia workplace.
Natural gas leaking from an underground pipe apparently seeped into the home's basement. The gas then gathered in the basement rafters, until something ignited it, causing the explosion.

Natural gas does not have an odor when it comes out of the ground---the odor is added by producers and distributors, as a safety measure. That odor, called "ethyl mercaptan," is a warning agent in the event of leakage or spills. Often, when a natural gas explosion occurs and the home occupants do not escape, it's because they didn't "smell" the gas---often a result of the absence of ethyl mercaptan.

Natural gas hazards occur not just in the home, but also at the workplace, and can lead to Georgia work injury. If you are working around natural gas and don't smell the odor in the gas, you should speak to your supervisor and have your employer pull the natural gas source out of service to determine whether ethyl mercaptan was properly added to the gas. Failure to do so could lead to an explosion.

A Georgia Power lineman was severely burned in a Georgia work accident while installing a utility pole in Milton, Georgia. Authorities say 25-year-old Kylan Warren of Acworth was caught in the explosion, and has suffered 80% burns to his entire body. Apparently, a device used to drill the hole for the utility pole struck the gas line, causing the explosion.

Prior to placing utility poles, the gas company is called out to the site to mark the location of the lines, so that when the lineman goes to the jobsite (where he probablly uses a digger derrick such as the one pictured below), he knows where to dig and where not to dig. A lineman is not expected to do anything other than rely on the marks placed by the gas company when setting up his digger derrick and placing the utility pole.

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Another oil refinery explosion has caused work injury and worker death, and has also led to the fling of workers compensation claims, this time in New Mexico. The Navajo Refinery, owned by Dallas, Texas based Holly Corp., exploded because the plant operator failed to follow safety instructions. According to a recently filed lawsuit, several workers were injured the the explosion, some suffering burn injury. Apparently, a large tank used to produce tar exploded, causing this incident.

Continue reading "Refinery Explosion Leads to Death; OSHA Investgating" »

Recently, the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) issued warning reminding employers and workers and the dangers pressure vessels pose to those working in industry. Atlanta injury attorneys often deal with burn injuries sustained as a result of industrial explosions caused by pressure vessels, including chemical tanks and gas tanks. If such vessels are improperly installed or welded, they may have inadequate pressure relief systems. The CSB noted several incidents related to pressure vessels, including a Louisiana gas explosion which killed 4 workers. The CSB also noted a Texas chemical explosion in Houston involving a pressurized tank which exploded, causing massive damage.

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.

Continue reading "Natural Gas Found To Be Cause of Slim Jim Explosion at ConAgra Foods Plant" »