Industrial plants can be very dangerous places, both for the people who work there as well as the people who live or travel nearby. As a society, we normally trust and hope that such industrial settings are operated safely and in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Sometimes, however, safety rules and regulations are violated or ignored, and the results can be disastrous.

Examples of such incidents can include:

• Industrial Explosions
• Industrial Releases of Toxic Chemicals
• Industrial Machinery Malfunctions
• Industrial Nip Point or Pinch Point Injuries
• Industrial Turn Arounds Involving Faulty Maintenance Procedures

Kenny Cole once represented numerous police officers who were injured by a hydrofluoric acid release from such an industrial plant. The plant owner had hired numerous contractors to perform a "turn around" during which equipment in the plant was going to be inspected, repaired, and maintained. However, during the turn around procedure, the lifting of a multi-ton convection section by a large crane failed because of faulty planning and unsafe storage of the acid in a tank over which the lift was occurring. When the lift failed and the crane and its multi-ton load crashed to the ground, the storage tank was damaged and the liquefied acid vaporized and vented to the atmosphere. Prevailing winds carried the vaporous acid over the nearby town, and the local police officers were overcome and injured by breathing the acid while trying to evacuate the endangered citizens. Because of their pulmonary injuries, the officers hired Cole to represent them against the plant owner and the contractors whose conduct led to the acid release. Cole's involvement in this lawsuit was made part of a Home Box Office documentary entitled "Death on the Job."

On another occasion, Cole was hired to represent tollbooth operators who were overcome by noxious and dangerous chemical fumes that were released from a nearby chemical plant. These clients, like the police officers in the other case, suffered pulmonary injuries. Such injuries to the tissues of the lungs can be debilitating, both on a short time basis and sometimes on a long term or permanent basis. Such injuries sometimes require specialized medical care, like ventilators and respirators, and it is helpful to have a lawyer who understands that medical care and has experience dealing with the doctors who are trying to help you recover from your injuries.

Cole and Hodges also have been involved in nip point or pinch point cases. Such pinch point lawsuits involve industrial machinery that can pinch your finger or clothing and thereby drag you into the moving parts of the machines. These incidents sometimes result in death, and often result in the loss of fingers, hands, or arms. If you have been injured by a machine with a pinch point, you may find that the machine actually was designed with a protective guard to prevent such injuries from occurring. If such a guard was removed or disabled, then you may be able to bring a "co-employee" lawsuit against the people who negligently altered the machinery by removing or disabling the guard. If the machine was designed or manufactured without a protective guard, then you may be able to bring a product liability case against the manufacturer who sold or installed such an unreasonably dangerous apparatus.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an industrial disaster contact Cole and Hodges online or call us at 1(888) 539-3110 to set up a free consultation.