By Anthony I. Shin, Esq. | Personal Injury Attorney | Shin Law Office
Sterling is one of the busiest commercial regions in Loudoun County with factories, distribution centers, and industrial facilities operating around the clock.
These workplaces rely on chemical storage, electrical systems, heavy machinery, pressurized equipment, and large-scale production operations.
When an explosion occurs in one of these environments, the resulting burns are often severe, painful, and life-changing.
I represent clients who suffered explosion-related burns in Sterling industrial facilities, and I understand how devastating these injuries can be for workers and their families.
Why Explosions Occur in Sterling Factories and Distribution Centers
Industrial facilities in Sterling commonly store and use materials that can ignite or combust. These include solvents, cleaning agents, fuels, compressed gases, and dust-filled environments that can ignite with a single spark. Many explosions occur when machinery overheats, chemicals react, electrical systems fail, or pressurized lines rupture.
I have handled cases involving burns caused by a valve failure, an improperly vented tank, a forklift striking a chemical container, or a spark igniting dust in a production area. Sterling factories also use large electrical systems that can arc when they malfunction. When maintenance is neglected or safety procedures are ignored, a single error can trigger an explosion.
How Explosion-Related Burns Happen in Sterling Industrial Settings
Explosions create multiple layers of injury. The initial blast wave can throw workers off their feet. The heat and flame can cause deep thermal burns. The chemicals involved may create chemical burns that continue to damage tissue long after the initial contact. Secondary fires often spread rapidly through industrial facilities and can trap workers or expose them to smoke and toxic fumes.
In some cases, injuries occur when flammable vapors accumulate in poorly ventilated areas. A malfunctioning fan or a single spark from equipment can ignite the vapors without warning. I have also seen cases where electrical arcs create intense heat that ignites nearby combustible materials.
Common Locations of Explosion-Related Burns in Sterling Facilities
Explosion-related burns frequently happen in chemical storage rooms, maintenance workshops, production floors, loading areas, equipment repair bays, and areas where electrical panels are housed. Sterling distribution centers with automated machinery can also pose explosion hazards if pressurized equipment is not properly maintained.
Facilities near Atlantic Boulevard, Pacific Boulevard, Shaw Road, and the surrounding industrial parks often handle high volumes of hazardous materials. These locations require strict compliance with safety rules, and when those rules are not followed, serious injuries occur.
Understanding the Severity of Explosion-Related Burns
Explosion-related burns are among the most painful and medically complex injuries a person can experience. Clients often suffer a combination of thermal, chemical, and electrical burns. Many require emergency care, skin grafts, wound treatments, infection prevention, and long-term rehabilitation. Scarring, nerve damage, and emotional trauma are common.
Burns also affect mobility, strength, and the ability to return to physical labor. Many clients cannot resume their previous work due to pain, restrictions, or psychological distress. I work to document both the visible and invisible impact of these injuries so your claim reflects the full extent of your losses.
How I Investigate Explosion Burn Cases in Sterling
Explosion cases require immediate investigation before equipment is repaired, cleaned, or replaced. I move quickly to obtain incident reports, maintenance logs, chemical inventories, safety inspection records, and training documents. I also work with fire investigators, engineers, and chemical experts who can determine exactly what triggered the explosion.
Many Sterling facilities have surveillance cameras that capture the moments leading up to the blast. I request this footage immediately before it is overwritten. I also gather witness statements from coworkers who saw the conditions that led to the explosion or who observed safety violations beforehand.
Who May Be Responsible for the Explosion
Responsibility can fall on several parties. The factory or distribution center may be directly responsible if they failed to follow fire safety procedures, allowed defective equipment to remain in service, or failed to train workers. A contractor may be responsible if they performed unsafe repairs or maintenance. An equipment manufacturer may be liable if a machine malfunctions due to design or production defects.
I analyze the chain of responsibility in the facility to identify every party that contributed to the unsafe conditions.
Compensation for Explosion-Related Burns
Explosion burns often require extensive and long-term medical care. I pursue compensation for emergency treatment, hospitalization, surgeries, therapy, rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, pain and suffering, scarring, emotional trauma, and the long-term impact of permanent injuries. In the most serious cases, I also pursue compensation for future care needs and home modifications.
What You Should Do After an Explosion in a Sterling Facility
Seek emergency medical care immediately. Burns can worsen quickly and often require specialized treatment. Report the incident to your supervisor and request a written incident report. If you can, take photos of the scene and identify coworkers who witnessed the explosion. Avoid giving detailed statements to insurance companies until you speak with me.
My Commitment to Workers Injured in Sterling Industrial Explosions
Explosion-related burns change lives.
These injuries affect your health, your future, and your ability to work.
If you were burned in a blast inside a Sterling factory or distribution center, I will investigate your case, protect your rights, and pursue the compensation you need to rebuild your life.
I know the industrial landscape of Sterling and the safety standards required in these facilities, and I will stand with you through every part of the process.
Call 571-445-6565 or book a consultation online today.
— Anthony I. Shin, Esq.
Principal Attorney | Shin Law Office
