Opal, WY — A worker with Hughes Enterprises was killed near Opal in September of last year after a fatal accident at a gas pumping station. Jared Loftiss, 35, was identified as the worker who died and the accident happened on September 23, 2014.
According to the news reports about this accident, Loftiss was one of several workers at a pumping station owned by EOG, a large company. Apparently, Loftiss was working at the facility on Tuesday the 23rd with at least three other workers and was inside a storage tank.
Due to an accident of some sort, possible static buildup, there was an explosion in the storage tank, which critically injured Loftiss and two others. However, Loftiss later died from his injuries.
Right now, OSHA hasn’t determined what caused the explosion and neither EOG or Hughes Enterprises has stepped forward to explain things.
Map of the Opal
Commentary:
It looks like there were at least a few different companies active at this site, so which one actually owned the storage tank where the men were working? I’m asking that question because it may determine where the liability falls should any legal action be taken. I could have all my facts confused here, but whoever owned that tank is supposed to also be in charge of making sure that the working environment was as safe as possible for the others there. If that didn’t happen, then they may bear some of the liability. But, like I said, it’s possible that the news is getting this way out of proportion and it was caused by some simple static electricity or a cigarette lit too close.
— Grossman Law Offices