Not all injuries Pennsylvania workers face involves broken bones or injuries to the flesh. When toxic chemicals are involved in one's work it is possible that exposure to them could inflict harm as well. Earlier this month workers at a Pennsylvania foods plant learned this first hand. A tanker truck exploded resulting in a fire that spewed toxic smoke into the air.

The incident resulted in nine individuals being sent to a hospital. In addition to food plant employees, this group included truck drivers and police officers. Though the inhalation of toxic fumes caused breathing problems, none of the injuries were believed to be life threatening.

At this point it is unclear what caused the tanker truck to explode. When the explosion occurred, workers were in the process of lining the tank with some type of foam.

Under certain circumstances the inhalation of toxic fumes could result in serious injuries, and the recovery might take a long period of time. When a worker is unable to do his or her job the injured person may seek workers' compensation benefits from his or her employer.

A majority of Pennsylvania residents must work to survive. These individuals assume that they will be able to earn a living without placing themselves in serious danger. As this incident illustrates, workplaces are not always as safe as one hopes. For this reason it is good that most employers are required to carry workers' compensation insurance. In some instances workers' compensation benefits may be the only thing that keeps workers injured on the job from financial ruin while they are healing.

Source: FOX 43, "9 people sent to hospital after tanker explosion creates toxic fumes," Rebecca Solomon, Jan. 21, 2014