When working around combustible equipment and machinery at your job, you can be put in danger quite often. Explosions and fires can put you at serious risk of a workplace injury and require you to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim.
Recently in Shelton, Connecticut a worker was burned in an industrial fire at Oliver Terrace that left the worker badly burned. Authorities who were on the scene had to transport the individual to an area hospital for treatment of the burns. This type of accident is not the most common workplace injury, but it can be one of the most severe when it does occur.
The most important thing you can do if you come in contact with machinery or materials that could be combustible at work is to take the following safety precautions.
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Follow all state and federal guidelines when you are engaged in work that requires interaction with chemicals or machinery that could easily become overheated and catch on fire or explode. Working with your employer to understand these guidelines can be critical to your ability to avoid being put in this type of situation in the first place.
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Learn and understand all safety protocols put in place by your company. If there is guidance provided by your employer you should be familiar with it and ready to put it into action. If your company does not provide safety guidance you may need to file an anonymous workplace safety complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) so they can investigate the working conditions at your place of work.
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Wear the proper protective clothing that is required to do your job safely. This may include things like fire resistant work clothes, face coverings and hand coverings. If you are not protected from the heat that an industrial fire can release you may be in danger of getting injured. Wearing the proper clothing and protective equipment can put you more at ease while doing your job which will allow you to focus on staying safe and avoiding any mistakes.
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Be prepared for an emergency. All the preparation in the world may not keep you safe from an accident, because after all accidents do happen. What you can do is be prepared in the event that an accident were to happen. Have a plan to evacuate the area and take the next appropriate steps to minimize any damage done by the fire and potential explosion.
Working around materials that are combustible can put you at risk of becoming injured if you do not take the appropriate measures to keep yourself and your co-workers safe. Of course, accidents do happen and when they do you should also be prepared for how to handle them. In the event that an accident does happen and you become injured you may need to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim which would require you to report your injury to your supervisor immediately.
These types of incidents can be complicated and difficult to navigate on your own. You may need to speak with someone who has experience in this area and is board certified in workers’ compensation here in the state of Connecticut. Contact our office and one of our attorneys will speak with you about your situation and work with you to make sure your long-term interests are protected.
