Posted on Thursday, November 3rd, 2016 at 3:03 pm
On November 1st, a Colonial Pipeline CO pipeline was compromised and proceeded to catch fire, injuring seven of the nine workers present at the time and killing one.
The crew was conducting maintenance on the pipeline after it leaked in September. Reports indicate that they struck the pipeline with a track hoe, igniting the gasoline. The gasoline fire caused significant damage as it burned over 30 acres of wildlife, forced a temporary flight restriction for the area, and required for two workers to be airlifted to the UAB hospital.
Colonial Pipeline CO delivers roughly a third of all the gasoline that is consumed on the east coast. Its recent problems have caused the company to undergo intense scrutiny from government officials and environmentalists alike.
Gas and oil fields are some of the most dangerous places to work in America today. The ever-present danger of highly flammable material near heavy machinery presents an elevated probability of serious injury for all workers present, no matter how many safety measures are taken. Because of these additional risks, employers need to be much more careful about the workplace conditions they create. The Fort Smith oil and gas field accident attorneys of McCutchen Napurano - The Law Firm believe that companies should take accountability when workers are harmed while on the job.
