On July 29, 2016, at approximately 11:00 a.m., Donald Workman and a co-worker traveled to an underground coal mine to repair loose guarding. About an hour later, at 12:00 p.m., the two miners were welding threaded blocks to secure the guarding when a methane explosion occurred in the mine shaft. One survivor noted that he heard a roaring noise and began to back away; however, Mr. Workman was in the direct line of the blast. Donald Workman suffered serious burns and injuries from the explosion. 
On August 4, 2016, Mr. Workman died due to the injuries he received from the incident. Evidence Room was hired to develop a series of visual exhibits to help tell the complete story of the incident. Our team created an explosion reconstruction and medical animation, along with visualizations that address the extent of Mr. Workman’s injuries and burns he suffered. A visual reconstruction allowed us to examine the physical circumstances of the incident and show the progression from the work being performed to the methane explosion and resulting injuries.
Medical visualization was also important in communicating the severity and consequences of Mr. Workman’s burns and other injuries in a way that could be understood. The case ultimately resulted in a $15 million settlement. This case demonstrates how forensic reconstruction and medical animation can bring together complex environmental, technical, and medical evidence to provide a clearer understanding of a catastrophic workplace incident.