Six Hurt In Workplace Accident at EME Homer City Generating
Six injured workers were seriously injured when a 6-inch pipe containing high-pressure steam burst at an Indiana County power plant. Three suffered severe work injuries and were taken to the burn unit at West Penn Hospital. Steam injuries, even though they do not involve contact with fire, can be very painful and cause deep second and third degree burns, necessitating long term care and a substantial workers’ compensation claim. Three other injured workers were taken to a local hospital.
The massive plant has the nation’s largest smokestack, and three coal-burning generation units which heat water to make steam. This steam then drives a turbine and creates electricity. Under OSHA regulations, anytime 3 or more employees are hospitalized in a workplace accident or construction accident, OSHA must be called immediately after the event. Presumably OSHA is investigating this incident at this time.