Danver Chemical Plant Settled With EPA for 2006 Explosion
The owners of a chemical plant that exploded 25 miles northeast of Boston in 2006 have settled recently with the Environmental Protection Agency for approximately $1.3 million. The payment will help to reimburse the EPA for the $2.7 million it spent cleaning up after the blast, which damaged about 270 homes and businesses and forced the evacuation of approximately 300 residents.
EPA investigators found that the facility lacked the proper ventilation, vapor detectors and automatic shutoff valves that could have prevented the explosion, which was caused by a buildup of chemical vapors. A report from the state fire marshal indicated that the plant had been storing at least twice the amount of combustible chemicals that its license permitted.
Fortunately, no one was killed or seriously injured in the blast – largely due to the fact that it occurred in the middle of the night when the plant was largely unoccupied.
Even without a major explosion, the presence of toxic chemicals in the workplace can pose a number of serious threats to employees’ health and safety. Many workers are exposed to dangerous chemicals in the workplace on a daily basis, often by breathing contaminated air or through direct exposure of their skin to toxic substances.
Toxins commonly found in products like adhesives, solvents, paints and cleaning products are associated with a number of serious long-term health problems, including increased risk of cancer, neurological disease and birth defects. Even everyday chemicals like ammonia and chlorine can cause severe, permanent damage when used without proper safety precautions.
In addition to an increased risk of terminal illness, workers exposed to airborne chemical contaminants may suffer chemical burns and scarring of the skin and respiratory tract, as well as chronic respiratory conditions such as asthma and emphysema.
If you or someone close to you has suffered an illness or injury as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals in the workplace, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your medical expenses as well as your lost earnings and the cost of rehabilitation. Contact an experienced personal injury attorney as soon as possible to discuss your situation and explore the legal remedies that are available to you.