One employee of an embattled chemical cleaning company died in a New Orleans workplace accident that left two of his coworkers injured. The cause of the worker’s death was oxygen deprivation suffered while trapped inside a tank car at the Port of New Orleans rail yard in New Orleans East around 9:45 a.m., according to the New Orleans Fire Department.
Cleaning Service Repeatedly Fined By OSHA
The three men who were trapped inside the tank car were employees of Dedicated Trailer Cleaning Services, a company that was recently fined by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OHSA) for repeated violations on worksites in Illinois. According to OHSA, Dedicated TCS failed to properly train its employees, failed to provide then with safety gear, and continually exposed them to hazardous materials. At the time, an area directer for OHSA said “Dedicated TCS’s failure to safeguard its employees is a consistent and unacceptable habit. It must stop now.”
Company Guilty of Negligence?
Although the company was never cited or fined due to its operations in New Orleans, the incident which killed one worker and left two injured reeks of company negligence. Once the workers were trapped inside the tank car, one was able to escape and call 911. When first responders arrived, they found two others still inside, unconscious. One man responded to oxygen treatment, while the other was taken to a local hospital without a pulse, and ultimately died from prolonged oxygen deprivation. “Lack of ventilation, oxygen deprivation, is pretty much what caused these guys to pass out,” Fire Department spokesman Capt. Edwin Holmes said.
For its part, Dedicated TCS is still awaiting an investigation into the accident. “Dedicated TCS sends out its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of its colleague,” Dedicated TCS President Jon Ruiter wrote in an email. “Dedicated is currently investigating the accident and fully cooperating with the authorities to determine the cause,” he said. “It would be inappropriate at this time to comment during the ongoing investigation and further out of respect for the privacy of the family.”
Accountability After Fatal New Orleans, Louisiana Workplace Accidents
When someone else’s negligence causes serious injury or death, it is the responsibility of those who have been harmed to hold that person or company accountable. The New Orleans LA wrongful death attorneys of the Olinde Law Firm are dedicated to doing just that—we are not afraid to take on reckless companies or drug manufacturers on your behalf. While we can never promise complete success, we do pledge to work our hardest to help each one of our clients reach the best possible outcome in their case.
Contact the Olinde Law Firm Soon For a FREE Consultation
In order to get in contact with the New Orleans LA wrongful death lawyers of the Olinde Law Firm today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation, call us now at 1-800-587-1889 or fill out the information on our contact page. This free consultation offers you the chance to discuss your case with an experienced attorney who can advise you on if (and how) to proceed with your case, all without establishing a lawyer-client relationship. Plus, if we decide to accept your case, you pay nothing unless you win. Call our office today to get started.