The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA, has concluded a comprehensive investigation of a steam explosion at a Connecticut VA hospital that occurred at the end of 2020. Two people working on the steam system at the Connecticut VA hospital located in West Haven were killed as a result of the steam explosion. In its report, OSHA concluded that the accident and the deaths of the two workers could have been completed avoided.
Horrific Deaths at West Haven VA Hospital
The two men killed in the Connecticut VA hospital steam explosion were Euel Sims and Joseph O’Donnell. Sims was a Navy veteran and O’Donnell was a contractor hired to assist with the facility’s steam system.
Stating that these two men endured horrific deaths is an understatement. They were in the immediate vicinity of where the system explosion occurred, which sent torrents of steam upon them. They had no hope of survival and were declared dead at the scene.
Deaths at the Connecticut VA Hospital were Completely Avoidable
The fact that these two dedicated workers suffered incomprehensible deaths is made worse by the fact that the OSHA investigation has made clear that they didn’t need to have been in this situation at all. OSHA made clear in its report that the West Haven VA Hospital completely failed to comply with basic safety standards.
OSHA made a clear, definitive statement when it released its report on the steam explosion and the deaths of the two workers. OSHA Area Director Steven Biasi stated:
“These fatalities could have been prevented if the employer had complied with safety standards that are designed to prevent the uncontrolled release of steam. Tragically, these well-known protective measures were not in place and two workers needlessly lost their lives.”
Multiple Violations Cited at VA Hospital
In its report on the comprehensive investigation of the Connecticut VA Hospital steam explosion, OSHA identified various specific safety violations at the facility:
Because of these specifically identified deficiencies, nine notices of unsafe and unhealthful working conditions were issued by OSHA to the New Haven VA Hospital in Connecticut. The level of these multiple OSHA violations are:
Information on penalties and sanctions to be imposed on the Connecticut VA Hospital have yet to be identified publicly by OSHA.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an explosion accident, or if you’ve lost a family member in that type of tragic incident, the committed, experienced, tenacious legal team at The Doan Law Firm is here for you. You can reach us around the clock, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year by calling us at (800) 349-0000.
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