Two Workers Injured in Aluminum Plant Explosion in Rubbertown, KY

Two workers were injured recently in an explosion and fire at the Eckart Aluminum plant in Rubbertown, according to a recent news report from Fox 41. Residents of the neighborhoods surrounding the plant were able to hear the explosion, but no evacuation was required.

The explosion and fire occurred during the evening shift and involved aluminum dust that caught fire in the plant. The workers were injured when the impact from the explosion hit them. They were taken to the hospital for treatment of their injuries and both are expected to make a full recovery. Emergency personnel were able to put out the fire not long after the explosion occurred, and no hazardous chemicals appear to have been released into the area’s air or groundwater.

Investigators from the fire department and the Kentucky Labor Department are now examining the scene. Fire department investigators are searching for signs of arson, while labor department officials are looking for the cause of the explosion and fire to ensure that the plant was following and continues to follow safety regulations to minimize the risk of future accidents and injuries.

Both Kentucky state and U.S. federal agencies issue laws and regulations to ensure that workers can do their jobs in reasonably safe conditions. When a workplace accident occurs, however, an injured worker may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits and may also be able to hold negligent third parties, such as the manufacturers of defective equipment, accountable for their injuries and accident-related losses with the help of a personal injury lawyer.