Power plant accidents can occur in various ways, but the worst types of incidents involve explosions. When thermal or nuclear power plants explode, the blasts can cause severe injuries. Generally, blast injuries from power plant accidents can be divided into four categories: primary injuries, secondary injuries, tertiary injuries, and quaternary injuries.
Plant workers and other victims of power plant accidents can seek compensation to help pay for their medical bills and other accident-related losses. A Louisiana plant and refinery explosion lawyer can file an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit to seek fair compensation for accident victims.
How Power Plant Accidents Stem from Poor Maintenance
Many major power plant accidents occur due to poor maintenance of facilities, lack of employee training, and other incidents that compromise the safety protocols in place.
Some examples of how plant explosions can occur include:
- Poorly maintained facilities that result in excessive dust and other contaminants
- Improper storage of chemicals, especially flammable materials
- Improperly maintained chemicals
- Improperly labeled chemicals
- Poorly contained sparks and fires
- Improperly maintained equipment, such as boilers, furnaces, and wells
- Violations of safety standards and regulations established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
When such accidents occur in natural gas power plants and nuclear power plants, the damage is often magnified due to the volatile substances harnessed in these facilities.
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Power Plant Explosion Injuries Can Have Life-Altering Consequences
According to StatPearls, blast injuries that occur due to explosions have unique injury patterns. Consider the following categories of blast injuries.
Primary Blast Injuries
Primary blast injuries refer to the damages resulting from the blast wave moving through a body. They can cause the following injuries:
- Ear injuries, such as tympanic membrane rupture and damage to the middle ear
- Lung injuries, which can have latent symptoms, such as dyspnea, cough, hemoptysis, and/or chest pain
- Brain injuries, which can occur even without a direct blow to the head
- Eye injuries, particularly a rupture of the globe of the eye
- Abdominal injuries, which can cause hemorrhaging and perforations
Secondary Injuries
Secondary blast injuries occur when debris penetrates the body. Flying debris from an explosion can be even faster than a bullet and can cause extensive internal organ damage. These injuries can be fatal, as well.
Tertiary Injuries
Tertiary blast injuries involve people being thrown from the blast and colliding with other nearby objects. These types of injuries can also include structures falling on victims.
Quaternary Injuries
Quaternary blast injuries encompass all other types of injuries, such as severe burns, resulting from an explosion, including exposure to:
- Fire
- Fumes
- High doses of radiation
- Biological agents
- Smoke
- Dust
- Toxins
Explosion victims can also suffer psychological damage due to their experience.
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Louisiana Power Plant Explosions in the Past
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Louisiana accounts for the third-highest natural gas production in the country. Louisiana has four coal-fired power plants, eight petroleum-fired power plants, and 63 natural gas-fired power plants.
The state also has two nuclear power plants along the Mississippi River (Bend Station and Waterford 3 Steam Electric Station), which accounted for 15% of the state’s 2022 net generation.
These facilities have experienced explosions in the recent past, prompting a reassessment of their maintenance and safety protocols.
2013 Explosion at the Williams Olefins Chemical Plant in Geismar, Louisiana
On June 13, 2013, Reuters reported on the explosion that occurred at the William Olefins chemical plant in Geismar, LA, which killed one person and injured 73 people.
The blast was fueled by emissions of petrochemical propylene, prompting the local government to issue a shelter-in-place order for residents within two miles of the plant, mainly due to smoke that polluted the air for several hours after the explosion.
2023 Explosion at Dow Chemical Plant Near Plaquemine, Louisiana
On July 15, 2023, a fire in Dow Chemical’s plant triggered an explosion that residents felt in homes miles away. The Associated Press reported that the initial fires occurred due to emissions of ethylene oxide, a toxic chemical. This required about 350 homes within a half-mile radius of the plant to shelter in place.
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How a Louisiana Power Plant Explosion Lawyer Can Help
Power plant explosion injuries often require a long period of recovery. It can be overwhelming to deal with a legal case while healing from these types of injuries. Victims have the right to hire a Louisiana plant and refinery explosion attorney to handle all aspects of their cases for compensation, though.
A personal injury lawyer can:
- File an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit, handling all the required paperwork
- Negotiate with insurance companies for a fair settlement
- Communicate with the liable parties and their representatives
- Represent victims in trials
Plant and refinery explosion victims may stand to recover a variety of damages, including:
- Current and ongoing medical expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income
- Reduced earning capacity
- Disability, including in-home aid and home modifications
- Scarring and disfigurement
If you lost a loved one due to a plant or refinery explosion, a wrongful death lawyer can help your family seek compensation for funeral expenses, your loved one’s medical bills, and their income. While you grieve in peace, a wrongful death lawyer can fight for justice and compensation that can help your family cope in your loved one’s absence.
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Call Laborde Earles for Help After a Power Plant Accident Causes Your Injuries
You deserve fair compensation that can help you access the medical care you need to reach your maximum medical recovery. The legal team at Laborde Earles wants to take the weight of the legal process off your shoulders so that you can focus on your physical recovery.
Call us today for a free initial consultation. We can discuss your legal options and explain more about how we can help.
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