Explosion Causes Serious Work Injury for Employee

There are many industries in New Jersey and across the country that pose some form of risk to their employees. In many cases, these risks are negligible because of the safety measures in place to prevent injuries. Other times, an unexpected accident could result in a more serious outcome. One man is now facing a severe work injury after an explosion occurred at his place of employment.

The worker is employed at a portable oil and gas drilling facility. For reasons that have yet to be determined, an explosion occurred late in the evening. Multiple residents in a nearby subdivision reported hearing the explosion and feeling their homes shake. A fire broke out as a result and took several hours to put out as there were no nearby fire hydrants and getting water to the site was challenging. 

Surprisingly, only one worker was injured in the accident. It is unclear how badly the man was hurt, but a spokesman from the company reported that the worker was in stable condition at the hospital. The state Oil & Gas Conservation Commission stated that once the site was safe to enter, they, along with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

When a work injury happens, an injured employee is typically entitled to file a workers’ compensation claim. When this type of claim is successful, the claimant can then be awarded monetary benefits that can be used to help pay for medical bills, cover lost wages or any other related expenses. Anyone interested in learning more in New Jersey could consult an experienced attorney for more information.

Source: CBS Denver, “Injured Worker ‘Stable’ After Windsor Oil & Gas Well Explosion“, Melissa Garcia, Dec. 23, 2017