It may be unnerving to learn that many of Pennsylvania’s workers operate in environments where explosions can occur. Employees, particularly those exposed to flammable chemicals, may unknowingly be at risk of fire injury or death when workplace accidents occur. When an explosion or fire occurs and a worker is injured, he or she may be left in a difficult financial situation.
An employee of International Wax may be in that situation now after being injured in a Pennsylvania plant explosion. The plant where the incident occurred produces petroleum-based waxes and possesses such chemicals as ammonia and propane. Though the exact cause of the explosion is unclear at this time, authorities have determined it originated in the plant’s filter house and was had an accidental cause. The injured employee was treated for his injuries and eventually released.
Suffering a workplace injury can cause a worker all kinds of stress. He or she may suffer from physical pain, requiring medical attention, and may have difficulty finding a way to pay for medical care when he or she loses wages due to missed work. The lack of financial resources may also make it difficult to pay rent, buy groceries, and take care of a family.
The best way to recoup these loses may be to file a workers’ compensation claim. This type of insurance, which is carried by employers, often provides injured workers with the money they need to cover medical expenses and lost wages. However, in order to recover this compensation, an injured worker must show his or her injuries were suffered while within his or her scope of employment. Sometimes insurance companies will deny a claim, stating the worker was outside his or her scope of employment. When this happens, a worker should think about contacting a legal professional who will fight to get the denial reversed and to recover the compensation the worker needs to get back on his or her feet and back to work.
Source: Olean Times Herald, “International Wax fire ruled accidental,” Colin Deppen, May 7, 2014