Oil Well Tank Explosion Kills One, Injures Four In West Virginia

At least one person is dead after an oil well tank explosion in Doddridge County, West Virginia that occurred on Saturday, May 25, 2018. The Medical Examiner’s office identified the man killed in the tragedy as 51-year-old Barry Lattea, from Weston. He was pronounced dead at UPMC Mercy Hospital.

The explosion happened as well tanks were being cleaned. News reports state that the tanks were moved to that location to be cut for scrap using a torch. It appears that some flammable material was still in the tanks while they were being cut, which triggered the explosion.

Other news reports state that three small, aboveground tanks were being removed when one or more exploded.

The oil well tank explosion caused a chain reaction fire at the property on 145 White Hair Lane in West Union, West Virginia. A nearby truck then caught fire and exploded. Four men were airlifted from the accident scene with burn injuries. There is no word on the condition of these men.

According to news reports, oil leaked into a nearby stream after the explosion and fire. Flames were visible and heavy black smoke was seen coming from the accident area.

OSHA Will Investigate This Oil Well Tank Explosion

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will be investigating this oil well tank explosion. These tanks can present health and safety hazards, according to the government. Explosions and fires are just two of the many hazards associated with this type of equipment.

According to OSHA, employers are responsible for training and educating their employees on the safe handling and maintenance of potentially dangerous equipment.

Any tank that stores oil is an explosion hazard. And tanks that are large enough for human entry can be dangerous for many reasons. OSHA states that, “Hazards encountered in petroleum and petrochemical storage tanks include fire or explosion, asphyxiation, toxicity, entrapment, falls, and physical and chemical hazards including steam, heat, noise, cold and electrical shock. These hazards can be a result of the presence of hazardous gases, vapors, fumes, cleaning chemicals, dusts, improper or insufficient lockout-tagout, or excessive heat or cold.”

Tragic Workplace Injuries and Deaths 

Burns caused by oil explosions can be life threatening and cause serious damage to the body. Depending on the severity of the burns, a patient could be hospitalized for weeks or months, and may need extensive rehabilitation and medical equipment such as wheelchairs and prosthetics. Medical care for these kinds of injuries is extremely painful and can cause emotional issues for years to come.

Any time a worker is killed in a workplace accident it is a tragedy. Our sympathies go out to Barry Lattea’s family.

Attorneys Fred Pritzker and Eric Hageman understand the pain and suffering of these families. They feel their main job is to get to know the people they represent and to help them through this difficult time. They will travel anywhere in the country to meet with their clients, and take the time to talk to the families to find out what they need.

Fred and Eric have won multimillion dollar judgments of their clients. And they will also help negotiate through the inevitable red tape that accompanies these tragedies. You can contact Fred and Eric by calling 1-888-377-8900 for a free, no obligation, and confidential consultation.

Sources

WDTV. “Oil well tanks had been moved to location of explosion to be cleaned, cut up for scrap.” WDTV.com, May 25, 2018

WTAP. “At least one person dead from well tank explosion.” TheNewsCenter.TV, May 25, 2018.

Collins, Sarah. “One confirmed dead after explosion in Doddridge County.” WBOY.com, May 25, 2018.