A chemical explosion at a manufacturing plant in Pennsylvania on Nov. 7 injured two employees who were handling a volatile substance with nothing more than gloves on for protection. The facility had to be decontaminated after a nitric acid explosion caused dangerous burns to the two workers. Though these types of Workplace Accidents can sometimes shut down a facility, workers were allowed to return after about an hour.
The accident occurred when the two injured workers were handling nitric acid and pouring the chemical into a pail. The cause of the explosion is still being investigated, but what is known is that the pail ruptured due to the explosion and caused burns to both workers' upper bodies and airways.
Firefighters received the emergency call at 9:44 a.m. and arrived to find that one of the injured employees had made his way outside after the incident. The second worker was taken to an emergency sink in the facility by coworkers in an effort to wash the chemical away from his body. Both workers were taken to a Trenton hospital, and they are expected to pull through.
Working around chemicals presents several dangers to those trying to make a living. Accidents in workplaces can cause serious injuries that preclude an individual from going back to work. While minor injuries sometimes require no medical attention, serious injuries, such as the aforementioned, may need emergency medical care. In these situations, an attorney may assist an injured worker in receiving compensation for their injuries.
Source: NJ.com, "Nitric acid explosion burns two workers at Pa. denture manufacturing facility at former U.S. Steel property", Alex Zdan, November 07, 2013
"*" indicates required fields
