We Energies Coal Dust Explosion Liability

At first blush, the 6 workers injured at the We Energies Oak Creek facility would be limited to Workers Compensation to collect for their injuries. However, often times workplace injuries are a result of negligence by so-called 3rd parties, meaning not the injured or the employer, but a 3rd party responsible for the injuries.

The We Energies explosion involves Waukesha based ThyssenKrupp Safway, a subcontractor providing scaffolding services. It also involves United States Fire Protection, a New Berlin firm that provides fire protection services. Injured workers may have possible claims against both companies depending on the exact contractor-subcontractor arrangements.

Coal dust explosions are often the result of negligent 3rd parties that are unfamiliar with the inherent dangers of coal dust. Everybody surrounding the We Energies site must use reasonable care in handling coal dust, and must also use reasonable care to warn of the risk associated of working around coal dust. What is "reasonable care" depends on many different factors, including opinions held by workplace experts.

The Warshafsky Law Firm has represented several workers over the past 50 years injured by coal dust explosions, recovering large sums of money to compensate for their critical injuries.