On Jan. 31, an explosion at a factory in St. Mary’s resulted in the death of one individual and injuries to two others. The workplace injury incident occurred in the morning at a carbon and graphite manufacturing facility on Trout Run Road, and sources state that the explosion may have been caused by equipment used in the facility.
In this serious event, two employees were injured. One has been hospitalized due to serious injuries, and the nature of the injuries and long-term prognosis are not known. The other injured worker is expected to make a full recovery, and it is not clear if that individual required hospitalization or emergency medical treatment for injuries sustained in the explosion. Details have not been provided regarding the deceased worker.
The facility’s management states that faulty equipment caused the explosion, but authorities have not confirmed this. An investigation may provide conclusive evidence regarding the cause of the explosion. This same manufacturing facility was the site of another fatal workplace injury in April 2012, and the company was fined by OSHA for safety violations related to the worker’s death. The company also was fined by the EPA in 2012 for a violation regarding toxic chemical reporting requirements.
While it is not yet clear what caused this fatal workplace accident to occur, employers are required to provide their employees with a safe working environment. When workers have been injured on the job, they may be able to seek financial restitution for their accident-related expenses by filing a workers’ compensation claim. This compensation may include funds for medical expenses and lost wages. Those who have been injured on the job can seek assistance from a Pennsylvania lawyer knowledgeable of workers’ compensation cases. A lawyer may provide those affected by workplace accidents with personalized guidance throughout the claims process.
Source: The Bradford Era, “One Dead, Two Injured In Explosion At St. Marys Factory”, Colin Deppen, January 31, 2014