A workplace accident at a Georgia chemical plant injured one worker last week, and forced authorities to temporarily close roads and warn nearby residents to stay inside their homes. The work accident marked the third serious safety incident for MFG Chemical Inc. in the past ten years, following a runaway reaction in 2004 and a major reactor explosion in 2012. If you have suffered serious injuries in an on-the-job accident in Georgia, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal work accident, contact our knowledgeable attorneys at Rechtman & Spevak today for legal help. You may have grounds to file a workers’ compensation claim, in order to pursue the benefits you deserve for your injuries.
Worker Inhaled Dangerous Vapor
The Georgia work accident started just after 6 a.m. at an industrial park in Dalton, near Interstate 75, as a worker was adding a chemical into a reactor to produce maleic anhydride, a chemical commonly used to manufacture polyester resin used in cars, boats and buildings. The chemical reaction produced a vapor that escaped from the reactor before the worker could close the lid. The worker subsequently inhaled the vapor, which appeared to have injured his respiratory tract, and he was transported by helicopter to a burn center in Augusta. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), inhaling maleic anhydride can irritate the larynx, and cause headaches, coughing and eye irritation.
Work Accidents at MFG Chemical Plants
MFG Chemical operates three chemical plants in Dalton, Georgia, and sells a range of products sold in the mining, textile, oil and paper industries. Prior to this work-related accident, another of MFG Chemical’s plants in Dalton twice suffered serious on-the-job accidents, including a runaway reaction in 2004 that released highly toxic and flammable chemicals, resulting in the evacuation of more than 200 families in nearby areas. In 2012, the same plant suffered another runaway reaction that ruptured a dome cover and blew a hole in the roof of the building, according to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Our Workers’ Comp Lawyers Can Help
According to MFG Chemical, the chemical release in this incident was contained within the plant and posed no threat to the public, but fire crews arriving at the scene of the workplace accident reported that they saw some vapor leaving the plant. If you have been injured in a workplace accident in Atlanta, Marietta, or elsewhere in Georgia, consult our workers’ compensation lawyers at Rechtman & Spevak for legal help. With our reputable workers’ comp attorneys on your side, you can seek fair and timely reimbursement for your on-the-job injuries and any loss of income associated with your injuries.
