An old Pennsylvania brewery was evacuated after an explosion on Aug. 13 that injured one person. The explosion took place at the Lion Brewery in Wilkes-Barre, an establishment that was founded in 1905 and is one of the longest-running breweries in the state.
According to a statement from the Luzerne County Emergency Agency, the workplace accident was the result of a small ammonia leak in a tank. The leak caused a small explosion that sent one individual to the hospital with unknown injuries. Although some ammonia was released into the atmosphere, the emergency agency said that the flammable gas was mitigated shortly afterwards. The factors that led to the ammonia leak are still being investigated.
In July, a similar ammonia leak took place at the same brewery. That incident also necessitated an evacuation of workers. Some of the hazards of anhydrous ammonia are the fact that it is flammable and corrosive to skin, lungs and eyes. The gas is used frequently in industrial facilities for refrigeration. In early August, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued a $92,400 fine to an Ohio brewery for safety violations involving its ammonia refrigeration system.
Exposure to ammonia or any other dangerous gas in the workplace may cause a worker to suffer from serious injuries. An individual may be reimbursed for the financial burden these workplace injuries have caused them by filing a workers’ compensation claim. While the worker is recovering, an attorney might be able to help them to pursue compensation for their current and future medical expenses as well as lost wages that have resulted from their time off from work.
Source: The Drinks Business, “US brewery evacuated after explosion“, Lauren Eads, August 14, 2014
Source: The Drinks Business, “US brewery evacuated after explosion“, Lauren Eads, August 14, 2014