OSHA Issues Citations in Connection with Fatal New York Explosion

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited DuPont and a Buffalo contractor for a fatal explosion last year. According to a WBFO report, the explosion at the DuPont plant in New York killed a 57-year-old man. The worker was apparently welding on top of a 10,000-gallon slurry tank when hot sparks ignited flammable vapors inside the tank, which triggered the fatal explosion. One worker was killed and another sustained major injuries in that November 2010 explosion.
OSHA officials, who have been investigating the incident for several months now, said the tank was supposed to have been empty at the time. OSHA has issued a total of 17 citations for serious violations at the plant where the fatal accident occurred. Investigators said the company created a dangerous atmosphere for the workers by allowing the welding to take place in an “explosive atmosphere.” OSHA said both DuPont and the contractor were at fault for creating the hazards, which led to this tragic accident.
All workplace accidents are devastating to the victims and their families. It is particularly poignant when we learn that a fatality or catastrophic injury could have been prevented. Workers who are injured or families of deceased workers can seek worker’s compensation benefits from their employers. However, it is a fact that workers compensation benefits can be inadequate, especially in cases that involve catastrophic injuries, permanent disabilities or death. These benefits are often not enough to support a family, for example, that has been solely dependent on the wages of the deceased worker.
In such cases, it would be important to look into whether there is a “third party claim.” Such claims are usually filed against parties other than employers such as a general contractor, sub-contractor, owner of a property, or the manufacturer of a defective product, whose negligence may have caused the incident.
The reputable New York personal injury attorneys of the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm fight hard to protect the rights of New York’s workers. If you have been injured in a workplace accident or have lost a loved one in a tragic accident, please contact us for a no-cost consultation and comprehensive case evaluation. Call us at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). We can also help you with your accident if it occurred in New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida.
Other phone numbers for us are:
1-800-RADIO-LAW, 1-888-WYPADEK, OR 1-800-LAS-LEYES
Please visit our website: www.work4youlaw.com
Source: WBFO