One person was injured Wednesday during an explosion at a gas bottling plant in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania.
Explosion Ignited by Acetylene Fire
According to the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, the incident occurred around 2:00 p.m. at the Western International Gas & Cylinders plant on River Road off U.S. Route 11, near Berwick.
Bellville, Texas-based Western International is a wholesale supplier of acetylene for use in welding and other cutting applications. A fire in an acetylene tank reportedly caused Wednesday’s explosion.
One employee was transported to a local hospital after sustaining burns in the blast. Fortunately, the worker’s injuries are not life=threatening.
The plant’s fire suppression system was able to extinguish the blaze. However, Fire departments from throughout western Luzerne County and eastern Columbia County responded as a precaution.
The Salem Township, Pennsylvania fire department has instituted a “pre-plan” to respond to any incidents at Western International. Following Wednesday’s explosion, assistant Fire Chief Rich Eyer told the Citizen’s Voice that “everything went according to plan.”
An official from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration arrived at the Western International plant late Wednesday afternoon to begin an investigation.
Western International Gas & Cylinders Implicated in Texas Acetylene Plant Explosion, Fire
This is not the first acetylene-related accident involving Western International Gas & Cylinders.
In July 2007, a Western International tractor-trailer exploded during a delivery to a Southwest Industrial Gases distribution facility in Dallas, Texas. The blast severely burned two workers, sent acetylene canisters into the air, and caused $2.3 million in property damage.
The explosion occurred after the Western Internal driver incorrectly connected his tractor-trailer to the facility’s supply systems. Witnesses claim that the driver then fled from a hissing gas leak.
The following month, another Western International truck was implicated in an acetylene fire at the Hughes Christensen Company in Houston, Texas.
Contact Our Undefeated Plant Explosion Lawyers at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here
Our Undefeated Plant Explosion Lawyers are investigating the Western International gas plant explosion and fire. We will provide an update should any new information become available.
In the past 10 years alone, our personal injury lawyers have won record-breaking settlements and verdicts for more than 500 injured workers throughout the United States, recovering more than $1 billion for our clients.
Our notable victories include Two of the Largest Accident Settlements in Texas, as well as significant recoveries for hundreds of workers injured in every major plant explosion in recent history.
Most recently, our Explosion Lawyers negotiated a highly favorable and confidential settlement on behalf of 65 workers injured in the Williams Olefins Plant Explosion in Geismar, Louisiana,
Our Firm has also successfully represented hundreds of workers injured in the:
- BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Explosion
- BP Texas City Refinery Explosion
- Williams Gibson Pipeline Explosion
- Williams Geismar Plant Explosion
- Imperial Sugar Refinery Explosion
- International Paper Mill Explosion
All calls and consultations are free, and because we only represent accident victims on a contingency-fee basis, you’ll pay nothing unless we win a settlement or verdict in your case.
If you or someone you love were injured in a workplace accident or explosion, contact our Experienced Plant Explosion Lawyers for a free, no-obligation legal consultation at 1-888-603-3636 or by Clicking Here.