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A boiler explosion at a refinery in Wynnewood, Oklahoma claimed the life of one worker and severely injured another, and has certainly grabbed the attention of the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Workers at a CVR Energy, Inc. facility were restarting a boiler when it exploded unexpectedly in late September.
“I would like to express my deepest sympathy for the employees and families affected by this tragedy,” said Jack Lipinski, CVR’s chief executive officer. “We are conducting a thorough investigation of the incident and cooperating fully with OSHA and the Oklahoma Department of Labor. Our focus is to determine how this accident occurred and what steps must be taken to avoid a repeat of this incident. We remain committed to providing a safe working environment for our employees and contractors.”
The accident remains under investigation, and there is no evidence of an environmental impact due to the explosion. OSHA will determine the cause and if CVR was negligent due to hazardous working conditions.
“We want to thank Wynnewood and Garvin County emergency response teams for their rapid response and assistance,” said Wayne Leiker, the refinery’s manager. “We had immediate support from the community, local clergy, the city and first responders. I especially want to thank our employees and contractors for their support, hard work and dedication during this difficult time.”
Please visit our site for more information on workers comp, and contact our office for a free consultation if you need assistance in the filing process.
Larrimer & Larrimer, LLC—Columbus workers comp attorneys.