Gas Tank Explosion

December 7, 2016

2 Hospitalized After Gas Leak At Orlando Strip Mall

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

Emergency crews rushed two people to a hospital because of a gas leak at an Orlando strip mall Wednesday.

Two patients were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center for dizziness but are in stable condition, according to reports.

The shopping plaza at Orange Blossom Trail and Holden Avenue was evacuated.

According to reports, a manager of a food store was chiseling away ice from a freezer containing fish when he hit a Freon line.

Hazmat crews responded to contain it. The Health Department and state fire marshal were called in.

No one ever wants to be involved in a gas leak situation. However, the truth is that these accidents happen, so it is best to be prepared. The following safety steps can be of help should a gas leak arise:

Alert everyone in the near vicinity and immediately get away from the gas odor.
Do not use any sources that may act as an ignition to a gas leak such as matches, vehicles, cell phones and flash lights until you move to a reasonable and safe distance away from the area.
Get to a safe place and then call 911.

August 1, 2013

Florida Injury Lawyer :: 9 Injured in Tavares Gas Plant Propane Explosions

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

At least nine employees of the Blue Rhino gas plant in Tavares were injured late Monday night in a series of propane explosions.

At this time, no fatalities have been reported.

There were nearly 53,000 propane tanks where the blasts took place. Residents of the area say the explosions were visible from 10 miles away and continued for at least 30 minutes.

According to Tavares fire officials and federal authorities, the explosions at the Lake County propane depot are believed to have been set off by equipment failure and human error.

Investigators had to call of their probe Tuesday due to the risk posed by a large, leaking storage tank at the plant.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration have also opened an investigation into this incident.

According to state records, the plant passed inspections by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in March and as recently as July 19 with no violations.

Firefighters, police and paramedics reported nine injuries Tuesday, eight of whom were workers. Five of the injured employees were listed in critical condition Tuesday.

Gas explosions are generally caused from some sort of negligence on the part of an individual or company. A propane explosion occurs from a gas leak of some kind in combination with an ignition spark. Gas tanks, pipelines and valves are supposed to be leak-proof, so when a leak does occur that results in an explosion, more often than not negligence is to blame. Any number of negligent acts could cause the leak, or even the spark. Poor design, flaws in the manufacturing process or improper installation, inspection, maintenance or repair could all lead to an accidental explosion.

Unfortunately, when a blast occurs, often those within the space or near the site suffer serious injuries. These injuries can be permanent and life-changing, and even result in death. Propane explosion injuries often include:

• Broken Bones
• Burn Injuries
• Lacerations
• Disfigurement
• Amputation
• Traumatic Brain Injuries
• Spinal Cord Trauma
• Catastrophic Injuries

December 9, 2011

Florida Burn Injury Lawyers Whittel & Melton :: Gas–Tank Explosion in Miami-Dade County Injures Four People

by Whittel & Melton, LLC

The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue has confirmed that four people were injured in a gasoline-tank explosion Tuesday afternoon at a machine shop in Medley, Florida.

Workers were supposedly cutting into an empty fuel tank that apparently was not cleaned properly on the inside and had fumes built up.

According to the Sun-Sentinel, the sparks hit inside the tank and created an explosion injuring three workers and a fourth one standing nearby.

While it was noted that the explosion was violent, it did not cause a fire.

The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue was called to the scene at 12:37 p.m. Three of the workers were airlifted to the burn center at Ryder Trauma Center, while the fourth was transported by ground.

Gas-tank explosions can ultimately result in catastrophic thermal burns, scarring, broken limbs, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and even wrongful death. People suffering from injuries related to an explosion often require a lengthy recovery period, which can result in a loss of income while recuperating away from the workplace. People suffering serious burn injuries run a high risk for infections that usually call for extended hospital stays. Some explosions may cause disfigurement that requires plastic surgery. Most explosion victims suffer a variety of injuries, causing substantial pain and suffering. Many victims of explosions can sustain life-altering brain and spinal cord trauma that could potentially keep them from ever being able to work again.

Many gas-tank explosions can be traced back to inadequate maintenance, improper cleaning techniques, defective components and poor training procedures. When this type of negligence is the cause of your injuries, the Florida Burn Injury Lawyers at Whittel & Melton can assist you and your loved ones in developing a strong case for compensation for injuries, lost wages and other costs related to an explosion accident.

Employees who sustain a work-related burn injury are entitled to workers’ compensation for their injuries. In the state of Florida, this includes payment for:

• Medical expenses
• Disability
• Rehabilitation
• Death benefits and Burial Expenses in wrongful death cases

However, in Florida, some work-related incidents also give rise to a separate negligence action when the injury, or death, is caused by a third-party factor. This could be a product defect, construction site defect, the negligence of another contractor or subcontractor, etc. Call our office for a complete evaluation of your case, even if you have already begun a Worker’s Compensation claim. You may be entitled to additional benefits.

The Florida Burn Injury Lawyers can thoroughly investigate your claim, research relevant workers compensation benefits and advise you and your loved ones on every aspect of your case.