Understanding Legal Claims for Workplace Explosion Injuries

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 200 workers are killed and over 5,000 injured in work-related fires and explosions every year in the United States. Fires and explosions often cause serious injuries and fatalities in the workplace. Explosions and fires make up a small percentage of workplace fatalities, according to data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and BLS, but often produce the most severe and life-altering injuries.

Where Do Workplace Explosions Most Commonly Occur?

Explosions are rare compared to other types of workplace accidents, but they can still occur, particularly in certain industries, including:

• Petroleum and refineries: Drilling, refining, and handling flammable materials, such as oil and gas, pose significant risks.
• Manufacturing and chemical plants: Facilities handling volatile chemicals and operating heavy machinery are prone to explosions.
• Mining: Coal dust and gasses can cause explosions in mining environments.
• Agriculture: Accumulated grain dust can accumulate and become explosive in confined spaces, such as silos.
• Construction: Improper handling of construction materials or gasses can result in explosions.

What Type of Defective Products Lead to Workplace Explosions?

Workplace explosions can occur due to various defective products, most commonly used in industrial settings. Some of the most common types of defective products that can cause workplace explosions include:

• Air compressors
• Combustion engines
• Electrical appliances
• Electrical wiring
• Fire alarms
• Fire suppression systems
• Hazardous materials storage tanks
• Improper ventilation
• Industrial batteries
• Industrial machinery
• Poor maintenance
• Power tools and other equipment
• Pressure relief valves
• Pressurized systems
• Safety regulation violations

Proper training, regular maintenance, and workplace safety protocols are critical to preventing workplace explosions and other accidents.

What Are Common Types of Product Defects?

While there can be numerous types of defects, they typically fall within three main categories, such as:

• Design defects: A product’s initial design is inherently unsafe or flawed, making the entire product line dangerous, even when manufactured according to design.
• Manufacturing defects: Defects that occur during the production process, causing the product to become dangerous.
• Failure to warn: These defects occur when a product lacks proper instructions, warnings, or labels about associated risks.

What Are Common Explosion-Related Injuries?

Common explosion-related injuries from defective products include lacerations, fractures, burns, electrocution, amputations, broken bones, and traumatic brain injuries. Common explosion injuries are frequently life-threatening and are often caused by sudden blasts of combustible materials, faulty equipment, or hazardous conditions.

What Are OSHA’s Regulations for Maintaining Workplace Equipment?

OSHA establishes regulations to ensure the safe operation and maintenance of workplace equipment. Employers are required to inspect, maintain, and repair equipment regularly to ensure that machinery and tools remain in safe working condition and remove malfunctioning equipment from use until repaired or replaced. Additionally, employers are responsible for providing proper employee training on the safe use and maintenance of equipment, operating procedures, and recognizing potential hazards.

In Pennsylvania, the Department of Labor and Industry Bureau of Labor Law Compliance enforces workplace safety regulations to ensure employers adhere to state and federal safety standards. The agency investigates complaints and performs inspections to verify compliance with the Pennsylvania Worker and Community Right to Know Act and other safety laws. Violations can result in citations, fines, or mandates to correct unsafe conditions.

Who Is Responsible for Workplace Defective Product Injuries?

In defective product injuries, multiple parties can be potentially responsible, depending on the type of defect and the circumstances of the accident, such as:

• Manufacturers who produce the product can be liable for design, manufacturing, or labeling defects.
• Distributor handling the product between the manufacturer and retailer if they fail to identify defects.
• Designer if the defect results from poor design.
• Third-party contractor involved in the manufacturing or design process.

If you believe a defective product caused your injuries at work, you should consult an experienced product liability lawyer who can assess whether you have a third-party claim in addition to Workers’ Compensation.

What Compensation Can I Seek for Defective Product Injuries?

In addition to Workers’ Compensation benefits, you may be entitled to economic damages, such as medical expenses and lost wages, and non-economic damages, such as pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of life enjoyment through a third-party product liability claim. In product liability claims, Pennsylvania follows a strict liability standard, meaning you do not have to prove negligence; you only need to demonstrate that the product was defective and caused your injury.

What Is the Role of Workers’ Compensation for Workplace Injuries Caused by Defective Products?

Pennsylvania employers are required to carry Workers’ Compensation insurance that covers employees after workplace accidents. Workers’ compensation is the primary way to receive benefits and compensation for workplace injuries, including those caused by defective products. If a defective product at work injures you, Workers’ Compensation provides l benefits for medical treatment and wage loss. However, injuries caused by a defective product may also entitle you to a third-party product liability claim against the manufacturer, distributor, or other responsible parties for compensation in addition to your Worker’s Compensation benefits.

What Should I Do After a Workplace Accident?

Reporting accidents and gathering evidence is crucial for both Workers’ Compensation and product liability claims. If you are physically able, you should take the following steps:

• Report the accident to your supervisor, manager, or employer immediately.
• Photograph the scene, your injuries, and what caused the accident.
• Gather witness statements.
• Seek medical attention to rule out life-threatening injuries with delayed symptoms and obtain a medical report of your injuries.
• Keep all records related to the accident and your injuries.
• Consult an experienced product liability lawyer with additional experience handling Workers’ Compensation claims.

How Can Galfand Berger LLP Help Me?

Our product liability lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP have decades of experience pursuing and negotiating third-party claims and provide guidance to help you navigate the complex Workers’ Compensation benefits process. Some recent product liability settlements and verdicts include:

• $36 million recovery for three workers, one killed and two severely burned, when a large steel-producing machine exploded:
• $5.1 million settlement for four workers who suffered severe molten metal burns by a defectively-designed Herman Vertical Centrifugal casting machine.
• $4.25 million settlement for two steelworkers severely burned by a defective furnace.

Additionally, Galfand Berger LLP is currently representing individuals who suffered severe burns and other traumatic injuries in the R.M. Palmer Chocolate factory explosion in West Reading, Pennsylvania. Workers, contractors, and others had reported smelling gas to R.M. Palmer officials. Senior Partners Michael M. Malvey and Gabriela G. Raful filed a civil action against UGI Utilities and R.M. Palmer Chocolate and its affiliates and successors, Confectionery Real Estate and Confectionery Purchasers, LLC, in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

The Philadelphia Product Liability Lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP Advocate for Workers Injured by Defective Products

Workplace accidents often result in life-changing injuries, particularly when defective equipment causes a devastating explosion. If you or a loved one has been injured by faulty equipment at work, the experienced Philadelphia product liability lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP can evaluate your case. Call 800-222-USWA (8792) or contact us online to schedule a free consultation. Located in Philadelphia, Bethlehem, Lancaster, and Reading, Pennsylvania, we serve clients in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, including Allentown and Harrisburg.