Any workplace environment at which chemicals are used can be hazardous. Company owners in Colorado and elsewhere must never be complacent about chemical exposure because even minimal exposure can cause severe occupational injuries. It is also important for proper protocols to be in place for the storage of chemicals. Employees who handle chemicals must be trained both in the proper use of those chemicals and the safety precautions to be taken in the case of exposure. A chemical exposure incident occurred at a hotel in another state on a recent Tuesday morning.
Shortly after 10 a.m., an unconscious worker was discovered on the floor in the hotel’s laundry room. Emergency services were called, and firefighters donned their hazmat suits and entered the room. The victim was removed, and a quantity of spilled chemicals were noticed. That was later identified as sodium hydroxide – present in concentrated cleaning agents.
Although this chemical does not affect all who come in contact with it, it can cause burns to a person’s eyes and skin, and, if it is inhaled, it can burn the respiratory tract. The injured victim was hospitalized in an unknown condition. No other injuries were reported, and hazmat workers decontaminated the area before leaving the scene.
Any Colorado workers who suffer occupational injuries are entitled to pursue compensation. Benefits claims may be filed with the workers’ compensation insurance program of the state. All medical expenses brought about by the injuries will be covered by the insurance system, along with wage replacement for workers whose injuries caused time away from work for hospitalization of recuperation. The compensation for lost wages are typically based upon the injured worker’s average wage per week.
Source: dcourier.com, “Prescott hazmat incident sends man to hospital“, June 7, 2016