Workers’ Compensation Claims for Victims of Industrial Fires and Explosions

Workers across various industries are exposed to the risk of injury or death due to fire or explosion. If you have suffered one of these injuries on the job, you may qualify for workers’ compensation and possible additional damages as applicable from a responsible third-party. The experienced attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman work vigorously to help injured employees secure the compensation they deserve under the law. Contact us today at one of our offices in Wilmington, Newark, or Seaford if you need legal support.

The serious consequences of industrial explosions and conflagrations

A number of workers at Liberty Casting Company were jarred the night of August 21 as an explosion and fire in a foundry injured five workers. According to Fire Chief John Donahue, fire crews arrived at the scene rocked by the devastation. A large portion of the damage was apparently due to molten metal exploding from a furnace resulting in localized fires throughout the manufacturing area. It apparently took about 20 minutes for employees to extinguish the secondary fires.

Some of the injuries were quite serious as detailed in an excerpt from one 911 call: “His skin’s melted off his entire back.” Others with serious injuries suffered burns around their mouths and faces, according to Donahue. Four of the injured were transported by ambulance and helicopter to Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center for burn care.

Workplace burn injuries and compensation available

Burn injuries suffered by employees and others can require various types of medical treatment that are covered under Delaware’s Worker’s Compensation benefits program. These include:

• Physical therapy
• Skin graft surgery
• Cosmetic surgery
• Pain medication management

Accidents on the job such as chemical burns, explosions, electrical burns, and thermal burns or lacerations from fire shot metal or spilled fluids can produce visible scars on the face, head, and neck. The surgeries performed to address one of these work-related injuries can also leave significant and long-term physical scars at times. Regardless of the manner in which an accident has occurred, the fault for the accident is not the issue when it comes to workers’ compensation insurance in Delaware. Permanent scarring, similar to amputation, qualifies for specific loss benefits under the law.

Multiple workplace environments carry the risk of burn accidents and subsequent painful injuries that include long-term rehabilitation periods and sometimes long-term disability. Workplace accidents that involve explosions and fires can lead to significant financial losses for victims due to medical bills and lost wages. Many of these burn injuries can be avoided through the proper implementation of safety training and enforced procedures.

Beyond burn injuries, fires and explosions can result in inhalation injuries, loss of hearing or sight, lung damage, brain injuries, shock wave injuries, respiratory or cardiac arrest, and wrongful death.

If you have suffered an injury or been diagnosed with an illness as a result of exposure to a fire or explosion in your workplace, our skilled Delaware workers’ compensation attorneys at Silverman, McDonald & Friedman are here to help. We can fight for the financial compensation you deserve at this difficult time. We serve Wilmington, Seaford, Newark, and other areas throughout Delaware. To arrange a free evaluation of your case, call us today at 302-888-2900 or use our contact form to send us a request.