Plant, refinery, and chemical facility explosions are rarely simple workplace accidents. They often involve third-party contractors, defective equipment, or facility owners whose negligence created a preventable hazard — and third-party lawsuits can allow for recovery beyond standard workers’ comp limits. We’ve represented Louisiana’s roughnecks and roustabouts on Gulf oil rigs since well before the BP oil spill, and we know how to fight for every dollar you deserve.

Injuries of this severity often require long-term medical treatment and may result in the loss of earning capacity or the inability to continue working altogether. An offshore pipeline explosion carries tremendous physical, emotional, and financial costs for victims and their families. We’ve helped Louisiana’s inshore and offshore workers obtain complete recovery for their injuries.

Plant, refinery, and chemical facility explosions are rarely simple workplace accidents. They are catastrophic events that often involve third-party contractors, manufacturers of defective equipment, improperly installed safety features, or facility owners whose negligence created a preventable hazard. Basic workers’ compensation limits what your employer pays under some circumstances, but comp may not be a shield to full recovery if gross negligence or knowing failures led to your injury. Additionally, third-party personal injury lawsuits allow you to pursue maximum financial recovery against other businesses and contractors whose failures caused the event. We know platform and plant operators from majors to independents, and we have represented Louisiana’s roughnecks and roustabouts on the Gulf’s oil rigs since well-before the BP oil spill. We know how to fight to secure every dollar you deserve in these complex cases.

Offshore pipeline explosions are often fatal, or cause extremely serious injuries including:

Injuries of this severity often require long-term medical treatment and may result in the loss of earning capacity or the inability to continue working altogether. An offshore pipeline explosion carries tremendous physical, emotional, and financial costs for victims and their families. We’ve helped Louisiana’s inshore and offshore workers obtain complete recovery for their injuries, including:

Coverage for surgeries, emergency room visits, burn care, skin grafts, rehabilitation, and future medical treatment.

Compensation for wages lost due to your injury or recovery time, plus long-term losses if you suffer a loss of earning capacity and cannot return to work offshore.

Damages for physical pain, severe emotional trauma, PTSD from the event, and permanent disfigurement.

Financial recovery beyond standard workers’ comp limits by holding negligent contractors, equipment suppliers, or chemical vendors responsible.

Ongoing financial support for spouses and children left behind, funeral expenses, and loss of companionship damages for families who have lost a loved one in a fatal facility explosion.

For over 40 years, Neblett, Beard & Arsenault’s injury attorneys have been the law firm Louisiana’s oilfield and offshore workers turn to when catastrophic events occur. We handle:

• Platform explosions and fires
• Blowout preventer failures
• Uncontrolled pressure releases and BOP failures

• Pipeline ruptures and pressure vessel failures
• Boiler explosions
• Valve failures and tank overfills
• Hot work accidents and gas igniting

• Arc flashes and faulty wiring ignitions
• H2S and improper lockout/tagout events
• Vapor cloud ignitions
• Pressure gas releases and failed gaskets and seals

Our Attorneys have spent over four decades holding industrial operators, chemical corporations, and third-party contractors  accountable across Louisiana. See the entire team.

Richard J. Arsenault

Michael S. Koch

Wesley J. Gralapp

We understand plant operations, chemical line hazards, pressure vessel dynamics, and OSHA compliance inside and out. We know where corporate entities tend to cut corners, and the consequences this can cause to Louisiana’s industrial and offshore workers.

We don’t settle for minimal payouts or basic comp limits. We relentlessly investigate all potential at-fault parties, including chemical suppliers, equipment makers, platform operators, and facility subcontractors to maximize recovery for Our Clients.

We know catastrophic burn injuries and blast trauma affect whole families. Our Staff knows you by name, Our Attorneys are always available, and we handle the legal fight so you can focus on healing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sue if the explosion happened at my workplace
While state law generally prevents you from suing your direct employer outside of workers’ comp, industrial and platform explosions oftentimes involve conduct or decisions which may allow for a claim outside worker’s comp. These catastrophic events almost always involve third parties — such as equipment manufacturers, maintenance contractors, or chemical suppliers. We investigate all at-fault parties and all potential avenues for full damage recovery, including pain and suffering and complete wage loss.

What causes most industrial plant explosions?
Common causes include chemical leaks, line strikes, deferred or inadequate  equipment maintenance, failing valve or boiler pressure systems, hot work safety violations, missed inspections and inadequate safety protocols, and failure to follow OSHA/PSM (Process Safety Management) standards.

What if I was hurt by the blast wave or chemical smoke, but wasn’t burned?
Blast waves create extreme pressure changes that can cause severe injuries such as traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), ruptured eardrums, internal bleeding, and lung damage. Inhalation of toxic fumes, exposure to chemical releases, or hot gas can also cause severe burns, respiratory injuries, and diseases and sicknesses which may manifest at a later time. Our attorneys can help you evaluate your injury or exposure.

As an offshore worker in the Gulf, am I covered by the Jones Act or worker’s comp?
If you spend roughly 30% or more of your work time on a vessel or drilling rig in navigation — including jack-ups, semi-submersibles, and drill ships — you may qualify as a Jones Act seaman depending upon other factors of your employment and assignment. This means you may be able to recover from your employer for full damages instead of being limited to comp benefits, as well as any claims against at-fault third-parties available to both Seaman and fixed-platform workers. Generally, workers on fixed platforms are covered by the LHWCA instead, but may seek full recovery in tort from negligent third-parties and contractors. But there are exceptions. The classification battle is critical and offshore workers are often misclassified after a major catastrophic event. It is important an experienced attorney examines the facts specific to your injuries to determine what options may be available to you.

Do I have to pay you anything upfront to handle my explosion case?
No. You pay nothing unless we recover for you. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we advance all investigation costs and our fees only come from the final settlement or verdict.