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Industrial facilities can be dangerous places. Pipes filled with explosive gasses are ever-present, and an open valve or a carelessly tossed cigarette can lead to an enormous explosion. Sadly, large industrial explosions occur far more often than they should. Many industries use highly explosive gasses every day, and it only takes one mistake to cause a serious, life-threatening explosion.
Common causes of industrial explosions
- Plant Explosions
- Pipeline Explosions
- Chemical Explosions
- Warehouse Fires
The operators and managers of industrial plants have an obligation to their employees to provide a safe workplace. Many explosions in the workplace are due to carelessness on the part of those in charge, and because regulations and safety requirements are not being handled with the appropriate seriousness.
If you have been injured in an industrial plant explosion, we can help you get the information you need to begin the recovery process.
Pipelines
Natural gas and other forms of fuel are transported in pipelines from refineries to other plants, businesses, and areas. Because of the high concentration of flammable material, a leak in a pipeline is a serious threat to anyone and everything in the vicinity. Without proper and frequent maintenance, even the most well-designed pipeline can develop a leak or flaw that could develop into a deadly problem.
Pipelines often travel long distances, frequently in excess of hundreds of miles. The length of the pipeline and the volatility of the material being transported mean that an explosion could occur suddenly at any part of the pipe. Over the past years, dozens of people have been injured and killed by pipeline explosions. Many more have lost their homes and their possessions.
Plant Explosions
Industrial plants are used to manufacture various goods. These plants often utilize heavy machinery and may use potentially volatile materials. When accidents occur in this setting, even seemingly minor ones, the consequences can be catastrophic.
Industrial plant explosions are often deadly and usually leave many of the plant’s workers seriously injured. If you or someone you love was injured in an industrial plant explosion, contact industrial plant explosion lawyers.
Sources of Plant Explosions
Explosions may occur in industrial plants for a number of reasons. Since these plants often handle dangerous, combustible substances, workers must use a great deal of care. Additionally, heavy machinery must be periodically inspected and maintained to provide a safe working environment.
Though worker negligence and equipment malfunction are the leading causes of industrial plant explosions, other factors may cause a plant to explode, such as:
- Fires
- Faulty electrical systems
- Unsafe work conditions
- Chemical spills
These problems may lead to an explosion that injures or kills many of the workers within the blast radius. When an explosion injures or kills plant workers, those workers and their families may be entitled to financial compensation from the plant’s owner. An experienced plant explosion attorney can help you identify if the plant’s owner is liable.
Industrial Pipeline Explosions
Many industrial plants use pipelines to transport liquids and gases from the plant to distances that may be hundreds of miles away. These pipelines require extensive inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety of the plant’s workers. Unfortunately, some plant owners neglect to have their pipelines inspected.
Pipelines may explode when they are not regularly checked and maintained. If you or someone you love was injured in an industrial accident involving an exploding pipeline, contact the industrial pipeline explosion lawyers.
Potential Faults of Pipeline Explosions
Since pipelines may transport highly combustible substances for hundreds of miles, they require heavy duty pieces of pipe. Since pipes do not come in lengths long enough to cover the entire distance needed, pipes are made of segments. Most faults occur in the seams where the segments are connected.
Some of the faults that may occur include:
- Weak welds
- Excessive pressure
- Improper construction
These faults are particularly dangerous since they may allow the combustible substance to leak. When these substances leak, they may come into contact with a spark, which may cause the substance to ignite and explode. When this occurs in a contained space, such as an industrial plant, the people inside the space are almost guaranteed to suffer an injury.
Warehouse Fires
In many industrial explosions, the catalyst for disaster is fire. Most industrial plants utilize warehouses to store chemicals and other materials necessary to carry out their functions. When a fire occurs in a warehouse, the results may be catastrophic.
Warehouse fires are especially dangerous because they are often large and lead to explosions. If you or someone you love was injured in a warehouse fire, contact warehouse fires lawyers
Fires, Explosions, and Negligence
In many cases, warehouse fires occur because of the negligent actions of industrial plant workers and employers. Most industrial plants are designed to have multiple safeguards against potentially dangerous accidents and acts of nature.
As a result of these safeguards, it often requires the negligence of an individual worker to cause a warehouse fire at an industrial plant. Negligent actions leading to fires and explosions may include:
- Smoking near flammable liquids
- Carelessly transporting potentially combustible substances
- Stacking reactive substances close together
A warehouse fire may also occur if an employer is negligent and does not keep the industrial warehouse up to fire codes. This may include failing to install a sprinkler system or failing to provide proper ventilation within the warehouse.
Chemical Explosions
Industrial plants often house dangerous chemicals, many of which are highly combustible. While such chemicals have many important uses, there is a downside to their presence. When negligent behavior causes these chemicals to be mishandled, the consequences can be disastrous.
Chemical explosions have the potential to injure and kill many individuals within the blast radius. If you or someone you love suffered an injury in a chemical explosion, contact the chemical explosion lawyers.
Causes of Chemical Explosions
Chemical containers are designed with many safety features to help prevent the chance of a chemical explosion and are usually effective. Though it is possible that a container may fail, the most likely cause of a chemical explosion is human error and negligence.
Chemical explosions are relatively rare occurrences, since chemical plants go to great lengths to ensure the safety of their workers and surrounding individuals. However, the following actions may lead to a chemical explosion regardless of the safety measures in place:
- Dangerous chemical reactions
- Smoking near dangerous chemicals
- Improperly maintained boilers
- Equipment malfunction
In many cases, these actions are the result of negligence because someone failed to carry out his or her responsibilities or otherwise acted recklessly.
Contact Us
At the Victim Services Center, we want to help you. If you or someone you love has been injured in a pipeline or industrial explosion, we can quickly provide you with the help you need. We want to provide the information that people coping with an explosion injury need.