According to recent reports, a 55-year-Milford man who is employed with Saint-Gobain Containers, Inc. is currently in the hospital after a propane tank exploded and he suffered burns to his face. The work related injury apparently occurred when he was filling up a forklift’s tank with propane.
The reports indicate that this was a very strong fire that took some time to bring under control. Luckily, there were no other workers present in the immediate vicinity of the blaze. The worker is currently in stable condition at Milford Regional Medical Center.
The incident is currently under investigation. It is possible that the Occupational Safety and Health Association, or OSHA, also may investigate the workplace in order to determine whether any safety violations were present at the worksite that may have contributed to this accident. If the company did fail to follow proper safety procedures, it may be subjected to hefty fines.
Fortunately, the Massachusetts worker’s compensation system may be available to this injured worker. The injured worker may be entitled to file a claim for immediate benefits to compensate him for his lost wages due to his current inability to work. He also may be able to seek reimbursement for any medical expenses he has incurred to date and he should be able to receive ongoing medical treatment for his injuries in the indefinite future. If he is left with a permanent impairment or disability as a result of this accident, he also may be entitled to seek additional benefits.
Source: www.boston.com, “Man suffers first-degree burns to face after propane tank explosion in Milford,” Jaclyn Reiss, March 17, 2013
