Minnesota residents know that a serious workplace accident can happen at any type of business and at any time. However, there are some occupations and industries that may have a higher risk of experiencing these incidents. An industrial plant is one type of jobsite that falls into this category. The presence of dangerous and even flammable chemicals or materials alone may increase accident dangers. Heavy machinery and mechanical equipment also exacerbate this risk.
Employees at an ethanol plant in neighboring South Dakota know about the dangers they face every day all too well. Recently two workers at the plant were involved in a fire onsite. Reports indicate that it is not yet known what exactly precipitated the fire. What is known is that one of the employees was inside of a tank and was welding items at the time that the fire began. The location of the second person involved was not listed in reports.
One of the workers involved required hospital treatment but has since been released. The other worker, the one who was welding when the fire happened, had to be transported by air to a hospital in Minnesota with special burn facilities. That man was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched an investigation into the accident.
While victims and family members in situations like these must deal with the emotional side of these types of situations, it is equally important for them to get help with other aspects of workplace accidents. Talking with an attorney may be a good way to learn about options for compensation after an injury or death on the job.
Source: Washington Times, “OSHA investigates worker death at South Dakota ethanol plant,” Paul Walsh, May 13, 2016
