A recent tragedy at a chemical plant in Texas has left four people dead. As details on the situation emerge, it has become clear that two of the men were more than just co-workers; they were brothers.
The brothers were both employed at a DuPont chemical plant, where a chemical leak occurred. They were veterans at the plant, with six years of experience each, and family members said that they worked near each other.
It appears that one of the brothers tried to save the other. The chemical leak began, and he grabbed a gas mask to run over and help his brother. However, he was unable to do so, and both of them passed away as a result.
Two other workers passed away, and another was put in the hospital with injuries but was still surviving as of the last reports.
The chemical in question was methyl mercaptan, according to the company. DuPont uses methyl mercaptan while manufacturing insecticide. It seems that a failing valve was the reason for the leak. However, the officials are still trying to determine exactly what caused it to fail.
The whole event took place at 4 a.m. It took about two hours for the leak to be stopped, and the situation was resolved. During that time, all five workers had come in contact with the chemical to varying degrees.
After a tragic workplace accident that takes the lives of one or more family members, in any industry at all, the surviving family members must be sure that they know what legal options they have to seek compensation for what they have lost.
Source: USA Today, “Brothers among 4 killed in chemical leak at Texas plant” Alice Barr, KHOU-TV, Nov. 16, 2014