Gas Plant Explosion Causes Worker’s Death

Jeffrey Fisher, 61, of Salem, West Virginia, was killed in a gas plant explosion in Washington County. Officials confirmed Fisher died at UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh following the explosion and his death was related to the burns he suffered in the incident, though the Medical Examiner’s Office has yet to release a cause of death.

Three other people were injured in the explosion.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the workers who were injured were employed by Energy Transportation LLC of Bridgeport, West Virginia. The blast occurred at MarkWest’s Houston Processing and Fractionation Facility in Chartiers Township. Officials stated the explosion occurred near two of the temporary gas storage tanks at the facility.

Fisher had been working as a driver with the company since January 2018.

Company Saddened by Loss

The company issued a statement saying it was “saddened by the loss.” It did not go into further details about the incident or about what the three workers had been doing at the time of the explosion, likely because of pending legal against.

A spokesman for Marathon Petroleum, which is the parent company of MarkWest, also released a statement that read as follows:

“We are deeply saddened that one of the contract employees injured during the Dec. 13 incident at our Houston, Pennsylvania, facility has died of his injuries. We continue working with federal, state and local agencies to investigate the incident.”

An investigation into the incident is currently underway and is being conducted by both Pennsylvania State Police fire marshals and the US Occupations Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Workplace Incidents Common Cause of Serious and Fatal Injuries

Unfortunately, Fisher is one of many workers to be injured at plants where explosive and hazardous materials are stored. Even under the best of circumstances when all safety protocols are followed these are dangerous workplaces. When a mistake is made or care is not take to protect against harm, the risk of a serious or fatal incident increases a great deal.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a workplace accident, we can help. We have experience assisting those who were exposed to harm in the workplace and are now forced to deal with significant medical costs and other consequences as a result of their injures.

For more information or to discuss your case, contact Heavens Law at 888.897.5377 to schedule a free consultation.