Tragic Explosion at Tyson Foods Kills One

A boiler at the Tyson Foods facility in Camilla, Georgia, exploded last Thursday, December 26, 2024. The blast killed one and injured several employees. The cause is now under investigation.

This deadly incident at Tyson Foods exposes the risks involved in industrial work. Victims of these accidents can suffer serious injuries and even death. When these incidents happen, those injured and their families need to understand their legal rights to pursue compensation.

The Tyson Foods explosion

Reports state that the boiler explosion, which occurred at 11 p.m., collapsed a wall behind the building and killed the wife of one of the plant’s employees. The victim was a 61-year-old woman from Las Vegas. It took responders hours to remove her body from the debris. While the victim’s husband, who is a truck driver at the facility, was on the scene at the time, he did not suffer injuries. Several other workers experienced injuries, including severe burns.

The explosion caused a fire that responders worked until Friday morning to extinguish. Tyson Foods and local authorities are looking into the cause of the fire, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) also launched an investigation.

The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union expressed concerns regarding employee safety at the plant.

Possible causes of industrial explosions

It is still unclear what sparked the Tyson Foods explosion. The incident is not the first industrial blast to cause severe harm to workers and others. A few potential causes of these types of explosions include:

• Poorly maintained machinery
• Outdated or defective equipment (including boilers)
• A lack of appropriate safety practices
• Misuse of dangerous chemicals
• Neglecting to properly train employees
• Smoking near flammable substances

Environments with a great deal of dust, electrical malfunctions, and the use of certain chemicals can all also increase the risk of explosions.

Taking legal action after an industrial accident

Industrial accidents may involve heavy equipment, chemicals, and fires – which is to say, they may lead to extremely serious injuries. The results can also be fatal, leaving grieving families struggling to cope with immeasurable losses. For victims and their families, having a dedicated attorney can help them recover for their financial losses. More importantly, holding those responsible for the harm accountable is the best way to encourage better safety practices in the future, which can prevent similar tragedies. Effective representation requires working with engineers, safety experts, and investigators to determine what went wrong and who is liable.

These claims can be extremely complex and may involve multiple injured parties. The legal grounds might stem from negligence. For instance, a lack of proper safety measures, protective equipment, or training could lead to dangerous practices that result in injuries. Other times, the cause may be product liability, which results from defective equipment.

Recovering compensation for injuries and lost loved ones

Accidents at a plant or factory will likely cause injuries to employees. However, the Tyson Foods explosion shows that victims can include others as well. When those injured are both employees and bystanders or others, there can be complicated legal questions about what a person can recover. In a personal injury claim, the damages can include:

• Medical bills (both past and future)
• Lost wages (including anticipated lost income)
• Pain and suffering
• Property loss
• Funeral and burial expenses (in the event of a wrongful death claim)

However, the actual damages you can collect will vary depending on a number of circumstances. The only way to find out what you might be able to recover is by discussing your claim with a personal injury lawyer in Atlanta or Savannah.

Finding the right attorney

At Harris Lowry Manton LLP, our attorneys have experience representing victims in multimillion-dollar negligence and product liability claims, including catastrophic workplace accidents like an explosion at a sugar refinery.

If you or your family sustained workplace injuries in an industrial accident, including the explosion at Tyson Foods, you need experienced legal representation. Contact us today for a free consultation with one of our attorneys in Atlanta or Savannah.