Minnesota readers may be interested in an account of a natural gas well explosion that took place in Pennsylvania recently. One person is missing, and another was injured following the explosion, which took place at about 6:45 a.m. on Feb. 11. The well caught fire and continued to burn into the afternoon.
The person who suffered the work injury was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Rescuers continued their efforts to locate the missing worker, according to local authorities. A spokesman for the company that owns the well stated that the main priority is to ensure the safety of the surrounding community, contractors and employees by containing the fire.
Following the explosion, the company asked for the assistance of an organization that specializes in natural gas explosions and initiated its own emergency response procedures. The spokesman said that the company did not initially know what caused the explosion.
If a company is responsible for the dangerous conditions that caused a workplace accident, it may be held liable to pay for lost wages, loss of quality of life and medical costs. It can be difficult to face a large company with a workers’ compensation claim and some employers might attempt to offer a small settlement that will not cover the financial losses connected with a workplace accident. A lawyer with a background in workers’ compensation cases might be able to obtain a fair settlement from a large company. It is important to note that a plaintiff who accepts an offer of workers’ compensation will not be eligible to collect a settlement through a personal injury lawsuit.
Source: The Huffington Post, “Chevron Natural Gas Well Catches Fire In Southwestern Pennsylvania Following Explosion“, February 11, 2014
