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Chemical Plant Safety

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Have you suffered a serious injury because an employer or coworker failed to adhere to chemical plant safety guidelines? Call Arnold & Itkin. We have experience working with a wide variety of industrial accident cases. Whether you've suffered a burn injury or post-traumatic stress disorder because of your accident, a plant explosion attorney from our firm can help you pursue the financial compensation you need and deserve.

Understanding Safety Regulations

Per the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration, toxic, reactive, and flammable substances may result in catastrophic injuries and accidents. It doesn't matter what type of industry is using the chemicals—they still pose a threat to worker safety and well-being. Generally speaking, these substances become dangerous when they are released. When a substance is released, it may cause an explosion. Because of this danger, OSHA has created specific safety guidelines that must be followed by chemical plant employers and employees.

Although safety regulations are used primarily to keep employees from suffering serious injuries, they serve other purposes, too. For example, employees will feel valued by their employers when they know that their safety is important. Additionally, safety procedures make sure that chemical plant workers are able to return to work the next day. Without a chemical plant, workers would not be able to collect paychecks or continue work. Safety procedures help companies stay productive by avoiding accident-related shutdowns and other unnecessary interruptions.

According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), employee training is the most effective way to keep employees safe.

The Most Important Safety Guideline

Ignorance can easily lead to a deadly accident. Because of this, employers are responsible to provide initial training for new employees. If an employer fails to properly train new workers, he/she may be held liable for any accidents and injuries caused by the new employees. Employees should have a clear understanding of the operating procedures of the plant. Additionally, the training must emphasize employee safety and safety operating procedures. Per OSHA, all training must include information regarding emergency procedures and health hazards related to the work.

After the employer has provided initial training, refresher training must be offered every three years. If the employer believes that refresher training is necessary before the three years is up, he/she may require employees to participate sooner. Refresher training is designed to help employees remember the safety procedures related to their job and to make sure that they understand and are practicing all of the proper safety procedures related to their jobs. Your employer is responsible to make sure that refresher training is given. During training, your employer should keep a written record indicating the date of the training, that you participated, and that you understood the training.

Avoiding Chemical Plant Accidents

Enacting and enforcing safety precautions is imperative in minimizing potential catastrophes.

There are dozen of procedures in place and a host of equipment to protect workers from dangerous situations.

Chemical Plant Safety Precautions to Avoid Accidents and Injuries:

  • Carbon monoxide and other gas detectors
  • Earplugs
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Flammable safety cabinets
  • Frequent training on safety procedures
  • Hydrostatic tests to check pressure safety equipment
  • Protective eyewear
  • Eye-washing equipment for splashes
  • Protective suiting, including gloves
  • Safety valves to regulate the pressure
  • Ventilation and respiration for fumes

Investigating Incidents

According to OSHA, one of the most important parts of safety management is the investigation. When a dangerous incident occurs at a chemical plant, it is imperative that your employer investigates into the specifics of the incident.

Investigations should be started within 48 hours of the initial procedure and should include the following:

  • When the incident occurred
  • When the investigation began
  • Details regarding the incident
  • What contributed to the incident
  • What should be changed to avoid future problems

Filing a Business Interruption Claim

Generally speaking, a business interruption claim allows an insured business owner to file a claim for income lost because of an accident. For example, if you are forced to cease operation at your plant because of an explosion, you may be able to collect compensation for lost income while the chemical plant is repaired. If your business has suffered damage because of a safety law violation, contact Arnold & Itkin to discuss your options—you may be eligible to file a business interruption insurance claim. Our lawyers are skilled negotiators and can help you every step.

Proper Plant Design Can Prevent Future Accidents

The design of a chemical plant is done to decrease hazards and risks on the site, specifically with explosions and overall exposure. Not only that, but the design is meant to be done in a way that will also limit the risks for those working at the plant and in the community. What enables the plant locations to be safe and efficient are the necessary routine maintenance checks, as well as frequent employee training. Without these three key factors (design, maintenance, training) a building becomes more dangerous and a possible hazard for accidents leading to explosions.

The design of a chemical plant needs to be catered uniquely to the types of materials that will be handled on site. Taking these points into consideration during the planning stages of the building is absolutely crucial. Why is this? Because understanding what specific chemicals will be used will determine factors such as the size of the site, different types of operating manuals for facility start up and shut down, among other details. Before the construction process even begins, plants must consult manufacturers for the equipment they will need (in order to provide adequate spaces for each tool), as well as laboratories for testing. Aspects need to be taken into consideration when building a plant also includes not only the size of the location but the impact on the environment, operational, capital and maintenance costs, etc.

Other factors that need to be addressed before construction include:

  • Rate of Flow
  • Working Pressures
  • Water & Electricity Availability
  • Temperatures Needed for Specific Chemicals

Contact Arnold & Itkin LLP Today at (888) 493-1629 for a Free Case Review

If you have been hurt in a chemical plant explosion because your employer failed to follow safety procedures, you may be entitled to compensation. Arnold & Itkin have helped thousands of clients recover the compensation they deserve. We have recovered billions of dollars on behalf of clients, and this equips us to achieve the best possible results for your case. If you or a loved one has been hurt, call our experienced and reliable lawyers today. When you contact us, we can help you understand your legal circumstances, rights, and options.

Call today and see what an attorney from Arnold & Itkin can do for you: (888) 493-1629!

Case Results

Check Out Our Victories

  • $171Million One of the Largest Confidential Settlements in History Arnold & Itkin worked over the course of several years to represent clients in a case that many other law firms turned down. In the end, we were able to obtain a record-setting confidential settlement of $171 million.
  • $97Million Massive Settlement Secured for Refinery Workers Arnold & Itkin is proud to share that after months of preparation for trial, our firm was able to secure a huge settlement for clients who were injured in a refinery fire. Find out more now.
  • $39.7Million Record Verdict Won for Victim of Industrial Accident Attorneys Kyle Findley, Kala Sellers, and Adam Lewis obtained a record $39.744 million verdict on behalf of a client who was burned in a severe dust fire and explosion at a plywood plant in Corrigan, TX.
  • $18.5Million Second Verdict Won for 4 Victims of Geismar Explosion In our second trial on behalf of victims of the 2013 plant explosion in Geismar, LA, Arnold & Itkin won a massive verdict for 4 workers and their families. The verdict will go toward providing the extensive care they have required in the years since the explosion as well as the care they will need for the rest of their lives. This was the second of 2 massive verdicts Arnold & Itkin won against Williams Companies, Inc.
  • $15.5Million Massive Verdict Won for Geismar Explosion Victims Arnold & Itkin won a landmark verdict against Williams Companies, Inc. and child company Williams Olefins LLC for their part in the 2013 explosion that killed 2 workers and injured over 100 more. Williams Companies tried to blame the incident on their limited liability shell company, but the jury saw through the defense. They awarded 95% of the blame to Williams Companies, Inc. and gave our clients the money they needed for medical care.
  • $13.7Million Massive Settlement Won Only Months After Injury Arnold & Itkin represented a plant worker who was seriously injured in an accident on the job. Plant injuries are often complex, taking years to fully investigate and litigate. Fortunately, our firm’s work was able to secure a multi-million dollar settlement mere months after the injury took place. Now our client’s medical expenses and other needs are taken care of for the rest of his life.
  • $12Million Injured Worker Received Settlement for Burn Injuries Our industrial injury lawyers have recently recovered $12 million on behalf of a plant worker who suffered burns when a safety valve failed at the refinery where he was employed. His settlement will go toward providing him with extensive and long-term medical care. His employer chose to settle his case two weeks before trial was set to begin.
  • $11.7Million Settlement Won for Plant Worker Injured During Turnaround Attorneys Kurt Arnold and Jason Itkin successfully recovered $11.75 million on behalf of a man who was injured while working a turnaround at an industrial plant. He was injured because he and his team were not informed of the plant’s dangers, and his family turned to Arnold & Itkin shortly afterward. Our team was able to get him money for his present and future medical expenses less than a year after he was injured.
  • $11.6Million Verdict Secured for a Worker Partially Blinded on the Job Our client was only offered $300,000 by the defendant for his near-total loss of sight in one eye, but the jury only deliberated for less than 2 days before they found the defendant guilty of defective equipment design. They gave our client an award of $11.6 million.
  • $4.97Million Settlement Reached for Orthopaedic Injury Victim Our team worked to represent a client who was severely injured while working at a chemical plant. He was performing construction and maintenance work at the time of the incident. In the end, our firm was successful in settling the case for $4.97 million.
  • $4.8Million Verdict Won for Bereaved Daughter Kurt Arnold recovered $4.8 million for a client whose father was killed after suffering a severe head injury in Port Arthur, Texas. Winning justice for grieving clients is a primary reason we became lawyers, and it's our honor to help clients like this one receive help.
  • $4Million Victim of Plant Explosion Received Millions in Settlement Arnold & Itkin attorneys represented a Mississippi man who was severely injured in a Texas refinery plant explosion. Cases like these require a high level of experience and investigative resources due to the myriad factors involved in a plant explosion. Our attorneys are proud to have helped our client receive a settlement of $4,000,000.
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