Alice, TX — A man at a welding company was injured this past Monday (June 22, 2015) in Alice after an explosion accidentally started a fire. This happened at a welding company operating out of a large warehouse off Flournoy Road and the injured worker was ID’d as Carlos Hernandez.
Hernandez and another worker, Roel Hinojosa, were both working at the welding company that day and were cutting a pipe for a fuel tank when something went wrong. The fuel tank may have had fuel in it when the workers were welding, causing an explosion which also started a fire.
The accident didn’t injure Hinojosa, but Carlos Hernandez was treated for minor injuries. The cause of the accident is still being investigated.
One of the news reports called the business “Hinojosa Welding,” but it’s unclear if Roel Hinojosa was the owner.
Map of the Area
Commentary:
The news reports that I read said this was “caused by an employee.” Now, I’m not saying that I know exactly what happened here that day, but I’m not comfortable with that language because I feel it places undue blame on the victims here. If this tank really had fuel left inside when the welders went to work, then isn’t that something that should’ve been addressed long before the work every started? Who’s responsibility would that have been?
You can see where I’m going with this, right? I’m not totally convinced that these workers caused the accident because it seems like a supervisor/owner could have been a little more careful in making sure his workplace was a safe one.
— Grossman Law Offices