Gas Well Site Explosion and Fire in Washington County, PA Injures Three Workers
On February 23, an explosion and resulting fire at a gas well site in Washington County in Pennsylvania injured three workers who were in the process of moving water from the well site that had accumulated due to melting snow. According to Post-Gazette.com, a fire broke out in some storage tanks that were holding fracking fluid, a chemical compound that is pumped underground as part of extraction process of Marcellus Shale gas drilling.
Of the 4,340 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2009, 113 were caused by fires and explosions, about 3 percent of all fatalities. There were five workers injured in fires and explosions in Pennsylvania that year. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) reports that fires and explosions injure around 5,000 workers every year in the U.S.
The article reported that the workers suffered burns in the explosion and fire accident. Other common injuries from explosion accidents include exposure to toxic gases, fall injuries, broken bones, internal injuries, head injuries, muscle damage, lacerations, loss of sight or hearing, and even death. It is crucial that proper safety regulations and procedures are followed and companies train workers about safety rules and enforce them in order to decrease the chances of an explosion accident. There are rules and regulations in place for employers and contractors to follow when teaching employees how to handle and work near flammable and combustible liquids. When they are enforced and maintained, they can prevent explosion accidents from occurring.
If you have been injured in an explosion accident in Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia explosion accident attorneys at Cherry Fieger & Marciano, LLP will investigate the events that led to the explosion accident. Call us today for a free consultation.
