One Person Injured In Elk Grove Village Fire At Industrial Park
Unsafe Premises - February 25, 2024
Elk Grove Village Officials Investigating Warehouse Fire In Industrial Park Near O’Hare Airport By Pan Am Boulevard and United Lane
ELK GROVE VILLAGE, ILLINOIS (February 25, 2023) – One person was seriously injured at an Elk Grove Village warehouse fire by Pan Am Boulevard and United Lane.
Elk Grove officials are saying that the incident took place around 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning. The fire started at a semi-truck repair business by the west end of O’Hare’s airfield.
A video of the incident showed large clouds of dark black smoke billowing into the sky. One person sustained major burn injuries and was transported to Loyola Hospital.
The cause of the fire remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Elk Grove Village Industrial Fires
Fires remain a major cause of preventable workplace injury and death. Civilians are also injured in these fires. According to Occupational Health and Safety, “an average of 37,000 fires occur at industrial and manufacturing properties every year. These incidents result in 18 civilian deaths, 279 civilian injuries, and $1 billion in direct property damage.” There are a number of common causes of fires in warehouses and other industrial settings.
- Electrical Malfunctions: Faulty wiring and overloaded circuits can cause sparks, which can inadvertently ignite fires.
- Flammable Liquids and Gases: All flammable liquids and gases at businesses should be safely stored and handled correctly. When this doesn’t happen, there could easily be a fire or a large explosion.
- Combustible Dust: Dust from many different substances, including wood, metal, and plastic, can all be highly combustible.
- Welding: Cutting, welding, or working with hot materials can create sparks that ignite flammable materials.
When a worker is injured on the job, they will typically have recourse through the worker’s compensation system. The worker’s compensation system in Illinois is based on a no-fault insurance scheme. There is no need for an injured worker to show that any person or group was at fault. A worker may also be able to receive benefits through a third-party liability claim.
A third-party claim may be possible if an entity separate from a worker’s employer contributed to an accident. Warehouses typically have a variety of companies and contractors that are working together in order to meet the same goals. It is possible that the owner of a property could be held at fault for an accident if it was caused by a dangerous condition. Victims of industrial fires tend to suffer very serious injuries, including:
- Burns
- Respiratory damage
- Organ damage
- Fractures
- Brain injuries
It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any industrial fire. This will help reveal what may have caused any fire and, thus, who may be liable. Any person who is injured in an industrial fire may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. Sadly, though, businesses will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if someone is injured on the property.
Investigating Cook County Industrial Fires
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to the person injured in this fire. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent similar incidents.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in an industrial fire? You may have legal recourse. Our team of workplace safety advocates is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
