Explosions are one of the most devastating kinds of events. They often happen without warning and cause catastrophic injuries.
Whether you were a bystander caught in an accident with a fuel tanker or a worker involved in a chemical fire, you do not have to handle the corporate lawyers and insurance companies on your own. Negligence, faulty manufacturing, or dangerous working conditions may be to blame.
A thorough, independent investigation of the incident and the events that led up to the explosion need to be conducted. An attorney who handles personal injury, workers’ compensation, wrongful death or all of the above should be consulted before you give a statement or sign any documents.
Common Types of Explosions That Cause Injuries
1. Chemical Explosions
Chemical explosions happen when unstable chemicals undergo rapid reactions, often releasing heat, gas, and pressure. These disastrous events most often occur in manufacturing facilities, chemical plants, and laboratories. Common causes include:
- Improper storage or transportation of chemicals
- Exposure to heat, sparks, or open flames
- Mixing of chemicals that should be kept separate (e.g., certain industrial cleaners or solvents)
2. Combustible Dust Explosions
Combustible dust, present in industries like agriculture, furniture, textiles, and metalworking, can ignite under certain conditions. When agitated or tossed into the air, the rapid friction (deflagration) can cause the fine particles to heat up and explode. Examples of materials involved in dust explosions include sugar, flour, grain, tobacco, plastics, wood, paper, rubber, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, dyes, coal, and metals. Causes include:
- Accumulation of dust in enclosed or confined spaces
- Exposure to ignition sources such as heat, friction, or electrical sparks
- Inadequate dust control or ventilation systems
3. Gas Explosions
Gas explosions often occur in industrial settings where natural gas, propane, methane, ethanol, or gasoline is used or produced. They can also happen when a tractor-trailer carrying fuel is involved in an accident. A small leak can lead to a massive explosion if the gas accumulates and finds an ignition source. Key causes include:
- Leaking pipelines or faulty gas appliances
- Damaged or improperly installed gas systems
- Lack of proper ventilation allowing gas to build up
4. Electrical Explosions (Arc Flashes)
Electrical explosions, also known as arc flashes, happen when an electrical current leaps through the air between circuits or a short circuit causes the collapse of the magnetic field in a transformer. This “jump” generates such intense heat and pressure it can vaporize metal and insulation material. Electrical explosions can lead to fires and secondary explosions, causing catastrophic damage in industrial environments. Such situations often involve:
- Faulty electrical systems or wiring
- Lack of maintenance on industrial equipment
- Human error during the handling of high-voltage systems
5. Mechanical Explosions
Mechanical explosions occur when equipment such as boilers, pressure vessels, or compressors fail due to excessive pressure. In industrial settings, these explosions can be particularly dangerous. They commonly result from:
- Over-pressurization or failure of pressure release valves
- Manufacturing defects or design flaws
- Inadequate maintenance or improper operation of equipment
6. Industrial Explosions
Industrial explosions refer to incidents specific to large-scale facilities like refineries, factories, or plants, where various hazardous materials and processes are involved. They often result in notable disasters that claim many lives, destroy infrastructure, devastate the local environment (sometimes so thoroughly access is banned), and cost an egregious amount in losses and cleanup. These explosions often result from a combination of factors, including:
- Improper handling of volatile materials such as fuels, gasses, or flammable liquids
- Ignoring or violating safety protocols and industrial standards
- Negligence in maintaining or inspecting high-risk equipment
- Human error during the operation of complex machinery or systems
Understanding the root causes behind any explosion is critical in determining liability and enforcing safety regulations. Whether it’s a case of equipment failure, human error, or negligence, holding companies accountable for mistakes or wrongdoing helps prevent future tragedies.
Explosions Are Rare But Deadly in Georgia
In March 2024, a maintenance technician suffered injuries after an electrical transformer exploded at a Georgia-based auto parts manufacturer. OSHA found that the company violated multiple safety protocols and cited them for 25 violations, such as failing to require employees to don appropriate certified electrical suits and failing to provide respirators against silica hazards.
An explosion at a hemp plant in Eastman, Georgia left four workers injured in May 2024. Saw dust caught on fire while inside the exhaust pipe of a piece of machinery, the explosion triggered by nearby welding sparks.
More recently, two workers were killed and another severely injured at a Delta Air Lines maintenance facility near Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Early reports suggest a tire on a plane exploded.
Contact an Explosion Injury Lawyer
Cases involving explosions are time-sensitive. There are many moving parts and invested parties. Families of the injured or deceased should inquire into outside legal representation as quickly as possible.
Make no mistake, the legal teams operating on behalf of the potentially at-fault company are not allies to injured victims or grieving loved ones. They want the bad press and consequences to go away.
People injured in an explosion due to an accident or work incident have legal rights and deserve a chance at as full recovery as possible — financially, physically, and emotionally.
But we know the aftermath of a tragedy can feel overwhelming; the prospect of paying for lifesaving surgeries or an unexpected funeral is painful and frightening. Consulting with and hiring an attorney who’s an expert in injury investigations and negligent wrongdoing is the best chance to receive just compensation.
Contact our experienced Atlanta personal injury law firm today for a complimentary review of your case. Gary Martin Hays & Associates has the professional authority and compassionate expertise to stand up to the large corporations while caring for its clients on an individual level.
Don’t let the multi-billion dollar insurance companies sweep your case aside; get an attorney that is willing to fight for you every step of the way.
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