On Tuesday, a workplace accident injured 11 workers at a plant in West Virginia. The accident happened at the Axiall Corp.'s Natrium plant that manufacturers chemicals in New Martinsville. Authorities have indicated workplace accident that a coal-fired boiler is responsible for the accident that occurred at around 7 a.m. The workers were transported to area hospitals. Three were treated and released, three were being held overnight, and the conditions of the other five injured is unknown. Axiall Corp. is no stranger to serious accidents. Last September, a fatal workplace accident occurred at the plant and the company was fined $11,000 by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for safety violations.
Nearly 5,000 workers are killed in workplace accidents every year in the United States, and thousands more suffer work-related injuries. Many occupations are deemed dangerous; however, all workers are exposed to risks of injuries while performing their job. Falls, machinery accidents, and injuries from repetitive trauma are a few examples of workplace accidents. In Missouri, all companies that employ five or more workers, and nearly all construction companies, are required to carry worker’s compensation insurance. The insurance is provided to injured workers for medical treatment and replacement of lost wages. However, workers find themselves suffering a financial strain after a workplace accident due to the wages being replaced at a rate of only 66.6% of their average weekly wage. To recover the amount of compensation you deserve, it is necessary to consult an experienced worker’s compensation lawyer.
The St. Louis worker’s compensation attorneys at Meyerkord & Kurth will work diligently to provide you with the maximum compensation for your damages. We will plan and execute a strategy that is most effective for handling your case while supporting you throughout the process. If you have been injured in a workplace accident, contact us today for a free consultation.