Construction Site Burns and Explosions in Texas: Chemical Hazards and Employer Negligence
When a Job Site Becomes a Blast Zone
Burns and explosions on construction sites cause some of the most devastating injuries a worker can survive. Thermal burns, chemical burns, blast injuries, and smoke inhalation can permanently disfigure a worker, destroy lung tissue, and require years of surgeries and rehabilitation. The San Antonio construction accident attorney at Carabin Shaw represent workers who have suffered these injuries and the families of those who did not survive them.
Texas construction sites handle flammable fuels, pressurized gas lines, industrial chemicals, and electrical systems every day. When any of these hazards is mismanaged — stored improperly, handled without training, or left near an ignition source — the result can be a fire or explosion that injures everyone in the vicinity.
Video Transcript
I’m Jamie Shaw with Carabin Shaw. Hurt at work in Texas? Your path depends on one thing — does your employer carry workers’ comp? Texas is unusual. Employers aren’t required to. If they have it, you file a comp claim. If they don’t — what’s called a non-subscriber — you may be able to sue them directly, sometimes for more. And if someone other than your employer caused your injury, a defective machine or a contractor, you may have a separate third-party claim. Most injured workers never learn they had options. Find out yours. Call Carabin Shaw in San Antonio. 210-222-2288.
Common Sources of Burns and Explosions on Texas Job Sites
Flammable and Combustible Liquids
Gasoline, diesel, paints, thinners, and lubricants are present on virtually every construction site. Improper storage near ignition sources, inadequate ventilation, or spills that are not immediately cleaned up can ignite rapidly. Workers who are near the ignition point can suffer severe thermal burns from direct contact with flames or superheated air.
Natural Gas Line Strikes
Excavation work that strikes an unmarked or improperly marked natural gas line can cause an explosion that kills workers instantly and injures everyone in the surrounding area. Texas law requires that underground utilities be located before digging begins. When contractors skip this step, they create a risk that is entirely foreseeable and entirely preventable.
Welding and Cutting Operations
Hot work — welding, cutting, and grinding — generates sparks and heat that can ignite flammable materials in the surrounding area. OSHA requires hot work permits, fire watches, and the removal of flammable materials from the work area before hot work begins. These requirements are frequently ignored on job sites where workers are told to get the job done without the time to follow proper procedures.
Chemical Exposure
Industrial cleaners, solvents, and adhesives used on construction sites can cause severe chemical burns on contact with skin or eyes. Workers who are not provided with proper personal protective equipment — gloves, eye protection, chemical-resistant clothing — and who are not trained on the hazards of the chemicals they handle are at serious risk.
Liability for Construction Site Burns and Explosions
When a fire or explosion injures a worker on a Texas construction site, multiple parties may be responsible. The general contractor is responsible for overall site safety, including the management of fire and explosion hazards. Subcontractors who perform the work that caused the ignition have independent liability. Chemical manufacturers whose products lacked adequate warnings or whose containers were defective can be held liable under product liability law. Utility companies that failed to properly mark underground lines may also bear responsibility.
A personal injury claim in a burn or explosion case can recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, disfigurement, and the cost of future surgeries and rehabilitation. Workers’ compensation does not cover pain and suffering or disfigurement — two of the most significant components of damages in a serious burn case.
The Long Road After a Serious Burn Injury
Burn injuries require extensive, long-term medical care. Skin grafts, reconstructive surgeries, physical therapy, and psychological treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder are all common components of recovery from a serious burn. The cost of this care over a lifetime can be enormous, and a personal injury claim must account for all of it — not just the initial hospitalization.
Carabin Shaw works with burn specialists, reconstructive surgeons, and economic experts to project the full lifetime cost of a burn injury and ensure that the compensation sought reflects the true scope of the harm. The firm does not settle cases for less than their full value.
Call Carabin Shaw After a Construction Burn or Explosion
If you were burned or injured in an explosion on a Texas construction site, Carabin Shaw is ready to fight for the compensation you deserve. Call (800) 862-1260 for a free consultation, available 24 hours a day. No fees unless we recover for you.
