Jackson Co. man says he was injured in drilling explosion

CHARLESTON -- A Jackson County man is suing Nomac Drilling after he claims he was injured when a mixture exploded onto his face and body.

Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC, and Chesapeake Energy Corporation were also named as defendants in the suit.

On Aug. 7, 2009, Jimmy D. Rhodes was working as a derrick hand on Chesapeake's gas well in Marshall County when he was assigned to mix caustic soda with water in a homemade barrel, according to a complaint filed March 15 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Rhodes claims the mixture exploded onto his face, mouth, upper body and thighs, knocking him backward and causing him to sustain significant burns to more than 20 percent of his body.

The defendants failed to perform an appropriate job safety analysis in connection with the Rhodes' assigned work, according to the suit.

Rhodes claims the defendants also failed to provide appropriate safety training and task training for the job he was assigned to perform.

Rhodes is seeking compensatory damages. He is being represented by Brent K. Kesner, Daniel W. Greear, Kevin C. Harris and Eric J. Holmes.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Charles E. King.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-423