Have you been injured in a blast explosion at work? You can generally file a workplace injury claim and seek compensation.
When you hear the word ‘explosion,’ you may tend to think of bombs and landmines on a battlefield. However, explosions are not confined to war zones. You may be exposed to potential explosions every time you work around flammable gases or liquids. Sadly, explosions often cause severe injuries and even death.
How Do Blast Injuries Happen?
When an explosion happens, its shock wave produces massive pressure, commonly known as blast overpressure. Unfortunately, this pressure causes life-altering injuries and even death to victims close to the explosion site. Here are common blast injuries.
1. Blast Lung
This is a deadly blast injury suffered by workers close to the source of the explosion. It occurs when over-pressurization shock waves pass through the respiratory tract. As a result, you may experience respiratory distress with no visible chest injuries. And while the signs can be recognized shortly after the explosion, some can even take days to show.
If exposed to an explosion, look for coughs, blood in your cough (hemoptysis), chest pain, or difficulty breathing. Other signs of blast lung may include low heart rate and low blood pressure.
2. Brain Injuries
A hit from the explosion shock wave is more than enough to cause mild traumatic brain injuries (MTBI). However, the worst part about MTBIs is that the signs are generally not noticeable.
Therefore, it is critical to seek medical attention if you’ve been recently exposed to an explosion. MTBIs may be characterized by headaches, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, or difficulty concentrating.
3. Abdominal Injuries
The abdomen is another common body part susceptible to debilitating injuries after an explosion. Common abdominal injuries include mesenteric tears, hemorrhages, bowel perforation, testicular rupture, and organ lacerations.
Therefore, if you’ve been in a work-related explosion and experiencing abdominal pain, nausea, blood in your stool, or rectal pain, be sure to seek medical attention immediately. If left untreated abdominal injuries can lead to life-long complications or even death.
4. Ear Injuries
Your ears are one of the most sensitive and delicate parts of your body. Therefore, loud noise and short waves from an explosion can affect them.
Suppose you experience hearing loss, ringing ears, discharge, or bleeding from the ear after an explosion. If you experience any of these symptoms, your ears should be attended by a medical professional immediately.
In some cases, the pressure exerted on your ears due to an explosion is so intense that it dislocates, fractures, or permanently destroys the bony ossicles of the ear. In severe cases, these injuries can cause deafness and permanent ear damage.
Seek Legal Help
Have you been injured in a blast explosion at work? You can generally file a workplace injury claim and seek compensation. To increase your chances of a successful claim, contact an experienced St. Louis workers’ compensation attorney to ensure your legal rights are protected.