Injured employee taken to hospital after dangerous reaction
On behalf of of Frederick & Hagle posted in Workplace Injuries on Monday, October 13, 2014.
Scientific and biomedical research may be a large driving force in propelling society into the future. However, when facilities fail to follow safety guidelines, employees in Illinois and across the United States who are studying certain chemicals have the potential to be seriously injured. An injured employee at an out-of-state facility recently had to be taken to the hospital after a workplace accident.
Although initially thought to be an explosion caused by certain chemicals being mixed together, a spokesman from Life Technologies — the company that runs the facility — asserted that it was actually a smaller chemical reaction. Additionally, he noted that it was contained within a single area in the facility. The company refused to disclose any of the chemicals or reactants that may have caused the violent reaction that injured one if its employees.
The company also stated that it followed recommended handling guidelines for the chemicals that were being used. Despite those supposed guidelines, the reaction still occurred, and the employee that was injured ultimately suffered lacerations. His injuries were treated at the hospital, although it is unclear what his current status is or the full extent of his injuries.
When working with hazardous chemicals or substances, even the smallest slip in safety guidelines can create a disastrously unsafe working environment for employees. No matter the situation that caused an injured employee to suffer in Illinois, if he or she suffered an injury while carrying out their work duties, they are likely entitled to workers’ compensation. This type of compensation typically enables an injured worker to deal with medical bills and daily expenses until such time that they are able to return to work.
