Chesapeake Personal Injury Lawyer Info: Compressed Gas Dangers Highlighted in Fatal West Virginia (VA) Accident

10/13/2011
Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton
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Chesapeake Personal Injury Lawyer Info: Compressed Gas Dangers Highlighted by Fatal West Virginia Accident

The dangers of compressed gas have been outlined in a U.S. Chemical Safety Boardr eport on three accidents at DuPont's Belle chemical manufacturing plant in West Virginia (WV), which included the fatal release of phosgene gas. Fire Engineering reported. Phosgene was the poison released by many gas artillery shells during World War I.

In the fatal accident, a 58-year-old worker was exposed when phosgene leaked from ruptured braided steel hose attached to a tank. As CSB Chairperson Rafael Moure-Eraso said told Fire Engineering, "Our final report shows in detail how a series of preventable safety shortcomings -- including failure to maintain the mechanical integrity of a critical phosgene hose -- led to the accidents. That this happened at a company with DuPont's reputation for safety should indicate the need for every chemical plant to redouble their efforts to analyze potential hazards and take steps to prevent tragedy."

The board also released a safety video about the dangers of compressed gas.

When things go wrong in industry the results can be horrific for employees, and costly for the companies involved. For instance, our experienced Virginia wrongful death attorneys reported that two companies responsible for the faulty construction of an industrial oil heater at a natural gas plant in Texas (TX) were ordered to pay $85 million to the family of a worker who was killed after a heater at the plant exploded.

Official investigations into fatal industrial accidents often result in violations or shortcomings being uncovered, be it the death of a sanitation worker in a Norfolk, VA truck or the deaths of many miners at a West Virginia (WV) coal mine.

When gas is compressed, there is a potential toxicity and asphyxiation danger even in the case of harmless gases such as nitrogen because the compression makes the gas a potential bomb, not to mention a potential legal time bomb for companies that fail to take all necessary precautions.

DM

Category: Wrongful Death

Labels: accident attorneys chemical compressed Cooper dangers Death DuPont experienced gas industrial injury lawyers phosgene pressure VA Virginia wrongful wv

About the Editors: Shapiro, Lewis & Appleton is a Virginia injury law firm whose attorneys focus on personal injury and accident law and have experience handling wrongful death cases. We have offices in Virginia Beach and Hampton, VA, but we're ready to come to you anywhere in Virginia if your family member or loved one was killed as a result of someone else's carelessness.

Rick Shapiro and James Lewis have been named to the National Million Dollar Advocates Form since 2009 and listed among the Best Lawyers in America since 2008. Shapiro and Lewis have also been named Virginia Super Lawyers for Personal Injury Law since 2010. Fewer than 5 percent of lawyers are chosen for this professional honor. In addition, ours was the first injury law firm in Virginia to join Primerus, a select group of highly ethical and respected law firms.

Our VA personal injury firm has the highest rating of AV from Martindale-Hubbell, a national lawyer ranking organization, which means we have a reputation for preeminent legal skill.

While not every injury case meets our criteria, we offer free initial confidential case consultations, so call us toll free at (800) 752-0042. If you cannot get through due to high call volume, please leave a voicemail so we can return your call.

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Chesapeake Personal Injury Lawyer Info: Compressed Gas Dangers Highlighted by Fatal West Virginia Accident

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