When you hear the word “explosion,” you probably envision a James Bond-like character running from a building as it explodes in the background. While explosions of that magnitude don’t occur very frequently, minor explosions at work send thousands of workers to the hospital each year. So today, we take a closer look at how explosion injuries can occur, what industry workers are at risk for explosion industries, and how you can get compensation for an explosion injury at work.
How Do Explosion Injuries Occur At Work?
Explosion injuries often involve two common factors – and explosive device and either corporate neglect or human error. An auto mechanic can face explosion danger if a tire becomes over-pressurized, while a construction worker can be injured if a fire starts near a tank of gasoline. Other types of explosion accidents we’ve seen include:
- Overheated consumer products
- Design defect in incendiary storage devices
- Chemical spills
- Unsafely stored explosive materials
- Overpressurized manufacturing equipment
- Faulty electrical equipment
As you might have guessed, workers in certain industries are at a great risk for explosion injuries than others. For example, elevated rates of explosion injuries have been reported in underground sewer workers, cable repair workers, oil and gas workers, power plant workers, miners and individuals who work closely with toxic fumes.
Types Of Injuries Sustained In During An Explosion At Work
One of the most common injuries from an explosion is a burn, but remember that not all explosions involve fire; they are simply the result of overpressurization. So aside from burns, here’s a look at common injuries that are the result of an explosion at work:
- Fracture
- Blast lung
- Ear damage/Hearing loss
- Eye penetration
- Crush injuries
- Abdominal perforation
- Traumatic brain injury
- Emotional trauma/PTSD
If you suffered an injury as a result of an explosion at work, or you witnessed an explosion accident and you are suffering from emotional scars, you can seek compensation for your injuries. Minnesota is a no fault state when it comes to workers’ compensation, so even if your mistake led to the explosion, you can still seek compensation (so long as you weren’t under the influence of alcohol or drugs or you purposefully set off the explosion). If you are confused about how to file for workers’ compensation, or your company is pressuring you into not filing, please reach out to a Minnesota workers’ compensation lawyer. Your company cannot take action against you for filing for workers’ compensation, and you are entitled to benefits.
To learn more about what types of compensation you may be eligible for after an explosion injury at work, reach out to Hey Workers today.
