Normally we save this blog to talk about mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases, and how they affect families the whole nation. But today we turn our attention to a different topic. Yesterday, at a chemical plant in East St. Louis, Illinois, just over the Mississippi River, at least eight people have been exposed to a toxic chemical at the Ro-Corp plant. Today they are in hospitals in Missouri.
Work safety is a serious problem. This is a question we all know too well from our many years of helping victims of asbestos at Simmons Hanly Conroy. And when it comes to working with potentially hazardous materials such as nitroaniline (these are the chemicals officials suspect the workers were exposed to), precautions should be taken. According to officials, the workers were exposed when the chemical was released after a barrel was dropped at the Ro-Corp plant in East St. Louis. The cover turned out of the container and a white powder coating and sank victims.
According to the Belleville News Democrat, a person was listed in serious condition in the intensive care unit, three in stable condition and three others are in good condition. Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri does not release any information on a victim who had been sent to the patient's request.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the people and families affected by this unfortunate event.
