In early March, two explosions and a fire at a paint coatings plant in suburban Cary reportedly injured three people. According to Cary Police Chief Steve Casstevens, an explosion unexpectedly occurred at Fox Valley Systems, Inc. just before 1:30 pm. As local firefighters battled the ensuing flames, a second explosion reportedly caused serious damage to the building located in an industrial complex about 45 miles northwest of Chicago.
Witness reports stated firefighters arrived at the scene quickly and battled the blaze in the snow with both water and foam. Casstevens said approximately 25 area businesses were evacuated as a precaution due to the presence of several large chemical tanks at the burning facility. Three people allegedly sustained unspecified injuries in the incident.
Following the explosion, John Kim, Director at the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, reportedly sought to forbid the facility from resuming operations until the cause of the blast is determined. In addition, Kim supposedly asked Attorney General Lisa Madigan to pursue a court order that would prevent any continued operation until clean-up and corrective actions could be taken. Kim purportedly stated that chemicals released in the fire subsequently migrated to a nearby retaining pond.
Normally, serious workplace accidents like this one are investigated by the nation’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 in an attempt to decrease severe worker injuries and fatalities. The Act mandates that all employers must provide workers with safety training and comply with a number of safety-related requirements. Additionally, employers are required to furnish a workplace environment that is reasonably free of preventable health and safety hazards. When an employer fails to adhere to the requirements of the Act, OSHA may investigate and issue various levels of violations. An employer who places workers at risk may incur fines and be required to remediate any safety hazards discovered by the agency.
Although most workplace accidents in Illinois are regulated by state Workers’ Compensation laws, a worker who is injured or killed as a result of the actions of a third party such as an equipment manufacturer may be eligible to receive additional damages. An employee who was hurt in an accident that took place at an Illinois workplace is authorized to receive his or her medical costs, disability pay, and compensation for his or her harm. If you were injured in an accident at work, you are advised to contact a quality personal injury attorney to discuss your options for recovery.
If you were hurt or a loved one was killed in an accident at work, call Abels & Annes, P.C. at (312) 924-7575. At Abels & Annes, P.C., our hardworking Chicago work injury lawyers are available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to help you file your workplace accident claim. To speak with a dedicated personal injury attorney today, please contact Abels & Annes, P.C. through the law firm’s website.
More Blogs:
Heart Disease Patients in Chicago, Nationwide May be Hurt by Too Many Prescriptions, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, March 26, 2013
Self-Driving Cars May Reduce Negligent Auto Accidents in Illinois and Nationwide, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, March 21, 2013
Additional Resources:
3 Injured in Explosions, Fire at Cary Industrial Complex, by BJ Lutz and Natalie Martinez, nbcchicago.com
EPA: Halt Work at Cary Plant That Exploded, by BJ Lutz, nbcchicago.com