An explosion the morning of May 24 on board a sewage boat that was docked on New York City’s Hudson River left one worker dead and two others injured. According to a CBS News report, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) employees were working on the vessel docked at the North River Wastewater Resource Recovery Facility in West Harlem when the explosion occurred, FDNY officials said.
Ongoing Investigation
DEP employee Raymone Feige was pronounced dead at the scene of the explosion, which occurred near 135th Street in Upper Manhattan. Two other employees were taken to area hospitals. The nature and extent of their injuries is not known. The deceased victim was blown by the force of the explosion in between the pier and the vessel, officials said. One person who was driving in the area told CBS New York that he felt the ground shake.
Officials said the cause of the explosion is still under investigation. The U.S. Coast Guard wrote on social media that the incident was “reportedly linked to hot work aboard a docked boat.” New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in a statement that officials don’t suspect any criminality on the facility at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased worker and those who were injured in this explosion. DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala said Feige served the city 33 years.
Common Injuries Suffered in Explosions
Accidental explosions are extremely dangerous and can lead to severe and often life-threatening injuries. These incidents typically occur in industries involving chemicals, flammable gases or heavy machinery. The force, heat and flying debris from an explosion can cause a wide range of injuries, both immediate and long-term.
Burns are among the most common and devastating injuries resulting from explosions. These can range from first-degree to life-threatening third-degree and fourth-degree burns, often requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation. In addition to burns, blast injuries can cause trauma to internal organs. The pressure wave from an explosion can damage the lungs, brain and gastrointestinal system, even without visible wounds.
Another frequent injury is hearing loss. The intense sound produced by an explosion can rupture eardrums or cause permanent auditory damage. Vision loss or eye injuries can also occur from flying debris or intense light and heat. Shrapnel and debris can lead to deep lacerations, fractures and even amputations in severe cases.
Psychological trauma is another serious consequence. Workers may experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression after being involved in an explosion. These mental health challenges can be just as debilitating as physical injuries.
The force of an explosion can also cause instant fatalities due to blunt trauma, severe burns or structural collapse. Victims may be killed instantly or succumb to injuries shortly after. In many cases, these explosions also lead to secondary hazards such as fires or toxic chemical exposure, further increasing the death toll.
Companies have a legal responsibility to follow safety standards set forth by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), conduct regular inspections and train employees on hazard awareness. Preventing such tragedies requires a strong safety culture, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and immediate response plans in the event of an emergency.
Contacting an Experienced Lawyer
Workers injured on the job can bring civil actions against the construction company, contractor and property owner/manager, etc. responsible for the safety of the jobsite. They can seek workers’ compensation benefits from his or her employer. In addition, workers and their families may be able to file a third-party lawsuit for substantial money damages against a number of parties, and thus have two sources of compensation.
Third-party claims are filed against parties other than the employer or co-employees and may include general contractors, sub-contractors, building owners, managing agents, construction companies, etc. In cases where a worker dies from injuries suffered on the job, surviving family members may seek death benefits through workers’ compensation and/or file a wrongful death claim against a third party.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a construction-related accident or any workplace accident, the experienced New York personal injury attorneys at the Law Offices of Kenneth A. Wilhelm can help you better understand your legal rights and options, and also fight hard to recover just compensation for you. For over 53 years, our skilled accident attorneys have established a proven track record of helping injured victims get fair compensation for their losses.
Our law firm recovered $3,375,576 for a construction worker (an undocumented immigrant) who was injured on the job — one of the highest construction case settlements in New York that year. Our law firm also recovered $3,000,000 for a man who fell and suffered two broken legs when he walked into an open elevator shaft. Also, one of our clients obtained a verdict for $43,940,000 and another of our clients got a verdict for $23,500,000, both in medical malpractice cases.
Please contact us TOLL FREE 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-800-WORK-4-YOU (1-800-967-5496). WE CAN EVEN COME TO YOU. There is no attorneys’ fee unless we recover money for you. We can also help with personal injury, lead poisoning and medical malpractice cases including, brachial plexus palsy (Erb’s palsy) and cerebral palsy cases in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, or Florida. If you have been seriously injured in any of the 50 U.S. states, please call us and we will try to help you with your case.
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Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/hudson-river-boat-explosion-nyc/