Pennsylvania Company Fined for Toxic Leak
Pennsylvania environmental officials have announced a $34,187 fine against a chemical company for a toxic leak that caused an acid cloud and forced hundreds of Butler County residents to be evacuated. According to this news report, Indspec Chemical Corp. has already been hit with a $121,500 in fines for federal workplace safety violations after an October 11, 2008 leak in its Petrolia plant. About 3,300 pounds of oleum leaked when a transfer tank overflowed. The type of sulfuric acid cloud that formed over the area as a result of the leak could have caused respiratory damage and skin burns, officials said. But so far, no workplace injuries have been reported as a result of this leak.
When it comes to Pennsylvania manufacturing plants, it is up to manufacturing companies to maintain a safe environment not only for their employees, but also for the area residents and neighbors. In this case, the company did not do its due diligence in making sure proper safety procedures were followed and their workers were properly trained to do their jobs. It is indeed fortunate that no one – neighbors or employees – suffered serious personal injuries as a result of this toxic leak in Pennsylvania.
If you have suffered toxic exposure as a result of such negligence or if you have suffered a workplace accident because your employer failed to maintain a safe environment, you are entitled to compensation. Please contact a skilled Pennsylvania workers compensation lawyer, who has experience successfully handling workers compensation claims and cases involving on-the-job injuries. At Cherry, Fieger & Marciano, we have the skill, the knowledge and access to experts who can strengthen your case and make sure you receive fair compensation for the injuries and loss you have suffered. Call us today for a free consultation.
