Fire and Explosion Injuries at Work – St. Louis Workers Comp Lawyer

Workers in the construction industry that are involved in fire and explosion accidents, are often left with severe and debilitating injuries.

According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), an average of 36 fire and explosion related deaths occur in the construction industry each year. Construction sites are full of hazards such as electrical systems, temporary heating devices and underground gas lines. These hazards can lead to a fire or an explosion in an instant. Injuries resulting from such accidents are often severe, and include eye, ear, brain injuries, perforation injuries and burn injuries.

In many cases, the worker injured in a fire or explosion is rendered permanently disabled and disfigured, and may never be able to return to work. Many severely injured workers lose their life.

Fire and Explosion Hazards at Construction Sites

At a construction site, a single spark or just a small particle in the case of an arc flash, can cause a serious fire or explosion resulting in severe injuries to workers. Some of the common causes of fire and explosions include:

• Flammable and combustible liquids
• Compressed gas cylinders
• Temporary heating devices
• Chemical tanks or drums
• Liquefied petroleum gas
• Explosives and blasting agents
• Electrical malfunctions and shorts
• Vehicles and heavy equipment

According to OSHA, fires and explosions are responsible for over 200 fatalities and 5000 injuries across all industries each year. A study spanning 11 years recorded as many as 361 fire and explosion related deaths in the construction industry. A fourth of these deaths occurred in multiple death accidents.

The accidents responsible for the most fatalities were:

• Fires
• Arc flashes and blasts
• Chemical explosions
• Pressurized container explosions

OSHA Guidelines on Fire Protection

OSHA requires all employers to implement fire prevention and protection programs. Some key OSHA regulations include:

• Fire protection:  Employers are responsible for the implementation of a fire protection program that should be followed across all phases of construction and demolition work
• Temporary heating devices: OSHA mandates that all heaters used in the vicinity of combustible substances such as canvas or tarpaulins should be kept at a distance of at least 10 feet
• Flammable liquids: Employers are required to use only approved portable tanks and containers for storing and handling flammable liquids
• Blasting and the use of explosives: Only qualified and authorized personnel should be permitted to handle and use explosives

Workplace Injury and Accident Causes