Types of Blast Injuries in the Workplace

Out of all the types of accidents that can cause serious injuries in the workplace, fires and explosions often aren’t near the top of the list of the most common types of accidents. However, when these types of accidents do occur, the effects can be devastating. Not only because of the injuries and fatalities they can cause, but because one explosion can potentially injure or kill multiple people at a time. Even if a person isn’t in the immediate area of an explosion, the force of an explosion can affect people who were further away at the time of the blast. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 107 fatal workplace injuries in 2022 involved fires and explosions. 

Explosion risks can exist in several different industries, including construction sites, manufacturing facilities, chemical plants, and mining sites, just to name a few. Any workplace can have an increased risk of explosions if it’s the type of setting where people are doing work that involves lots of heat and sparks, such as welding; if static electricity is present; if combustible dust exists; or if vehicles with combustion engines are being used. Faulty electrical wiring and the presence of hazardous/flammable chemicals are other common causes of work-related explosions. 

Types of Explosion Injuries

An important thing to understand about explosion injuries is that explosion injuries are classified based on how, exactly, they were caused. Explosion injuries can be primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary, or quinary:

• Primary blast injuries refer to the injuries directly caused by the initial blast from the explosion. These often include things like brain injuries, eye injuries, blast lung, eye injuries, and abdominal injuries. 
• Secondary blast injuries are injuries caused by being hit by debris from the explosion. 
• Tertiary blast injuries refer to the injuries caused by falling onto the ground if the force of an explosion causes a person to fall or fly into the air. These often include bone fractures, internal injuries, brain and skull injuries, and injuries that result in amputation. 
• Quaternary blast injuries include injuries that are caused by materials released by the explosion. Common examples of this can include illnesses related to smoke/dust inhalation and burns. The psychological impact of the incident could also fall into this category. 
• Quinary blast injuries refer to injuries caused by exposure to contaminants released during the explosion, such as radioactive material, chemicals, and biological matter like bacteria and viruses. 

Contact a Michigan Workers Compensation Attorney

If you were injured on the job, making a claim for workers compensation benefits is very likely going to be your main option to get compensated for things like medical bills and lost wages. Even if it seems like your employer is being cooperative, it’s important to contact a workplace injury lawyer for help as soon as possible to make sure you’re getting all the compensation you deserve. At Scott Goodwin Law, you’ll be able to get help from a lawyer experienced in handling these types of cases. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

Image: Thomasstaub / Pixabay