Railroad and subway workers in Connecticut and across the country may be concerned to learn about an explosion in Chicago that took the life of one Metra worker and severely injured another. The two men were welding on the railroad on Nov. 3, 2018, in the city’s northwest side when a tank of gas stored at a nearby truck exploded. The workers were operating on the Milwaukee District North line during morning repair work at the time of the accident, which happened near the line’s Grayland Park station.
The workers were continuing railway work from the previous weekend, which had replaced track diamonds on the line. The welders were engaged in routine maintenance at the time of the serious explosion. After the workplace incident, both men were taken to hospital in serious condition. However, one of the two men died while the other remained in stable condition. The 37-year-old worker who lost his life was pronounced dead less than an hour after the explosion.
A local resident spoke to media, saying that he heard a loud boom behind his house while working in the garage. He noted that the force of the explosion caused his 2-year-old son to fall to the ground. Metra officials expressed their sorrow about the outcome in the case, noting that they were conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the explosion and prevent future incidents.
Railroad workers who are injured or killed at work are protected by a federal law, the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA). Railway workers who are hurt on the job may face escalating medical bills or permanent disabilities that prevent them from going back to work. A FELA claims attorney might be able to help injured railroad employees seek compensation for their damages by showing that the railroad company was responsible for their injuries.
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