Philadelphia Compressed Gas Injury Attorneys

Construction sites commonly have many different types of dangerous materials on them. From the tools and heavy machinery that are used to erect buildings, to the gases and chemicals that are transported, stored, and used at various facilities, there are many dangers at the typical construction site. Certain types of gas must be transported and used in compressed cylinders, because the pressure makes gases easy to extract in the needed amounts, protects the environment from escaping toxic gas, or helps propel machinery. When these cylinders and the compressed gasses in them are not handled properly, they can expose their users and innocent bystanders alike to serious dangers, including but not limited to:

  • High pressures that the gasses are stored at can be dangerous. If mishandled, the cylinders can be propelled like a rocket or bullet, causing serious explosions.
  • Toxic gases, which can escape from cylinders or canisters for a variety of reasons pose serious health risks to those who inhale them. These gases pose a risk of death by inhalation because they deprive victims of oxygen. The added fact that many of these substances are colorless and odorless contributes to their dangerous disposition. Construction site workers can be exposed to them without even knowing it.
  • Flammable liquids and gases can be especially dangerous. Construction sites and the tools used on them can produce flames and sparks. If the gases are not properly stored and leak, a large-scale escape of that gas can cause fast growing fires. Even worse, the chemicals produced when these gases ignite and burn can be extremely toxic, causing lung injuries or even death from inhalation. Some gases, like pure oxygen, are not flammable but can cause normally inflammable substances to burn.
  • Many other gases in compressed cylinders are toxic or corrosive, and can cause brain injuries, chemical burns, organ failure or reproductive harm.

Federal and Pennsylvania law strictly regulates storage and use of compressed gases due to their dangerous nature. Not only are the gases themselves monitored, but so are the manufacture of the cylinders which hold them; specifically how they may be stored and handled. Employers must provide basic training in the use of compressed gas cylinders and warn employees of the dangers that compressed gas cylinders pose. Workers should be able to trust their employers, subcontractors and others in the business to follow these laws. However, negligent action on the part of employers and subcontractors all too often fails to protect employees from compressed gas cylinder dangers, placing employees at an unreasonable and unnecessary risk of injury.

If you’ve been injured in a compressed gas tank accident on a construction site, please don’t let your rights be infringed upon anymore than they already have. At Cherry Injury Law, our Philadelphia construction accident injury attorneys will examine the circumstances under which you sustained injury, and will help determine whether or not negligent action played a contributing factor in your compressed gas tank accident. If you have been injured, please don’t hesitate to contact our Pennsylvania compressed gas tank accident attorneys today at 215-675-2400 for a free evaluation of your construction site accident case.