Oil Field Accidents and Injuries

Texas has many oil field accidents, serious personal injuries and fatalities because it has a high number of oil field employees. Due to the contact with explosive and flammable liquids, the difficult working conditions and the exotic locations, oil exploration includes naturally dangerous working environments Many oil field exploration companies have been successful at lowering the rate of injuries for their employees. This focus has helped to bring the injury rate below those of other industries. For example, the injury rate in the construction industry for accidents is about 5.7 lost days of work for every 100 full time employees, while the rate for oil field exploration accidents is about 1.6 lost days of work per 100. But, due to naturally dangerous environment, employers must take precautions to protect the oil field workers from injuries. All employers do not strive to provide a highly safe work environment. Numerous unsafe conditions could be eliminated by the employers if proper steps were taken. Oil field employees sometimes get hurt due to negligence of the employer. Typical oil field accidents can cause serious personal injury, such as burn injury, paralysis, spinal cord injury and brain injury.

Common injuries that occur in oil fields are due to welding accidents, slips and falls, burn injuries, head injuries, spinal injuries, trucking accidents, brain injuries, fire and explosion injuries, helicopter accidents, boating accidents and aircraft accidents.

Being Struck By Large Oil Field Objects

Extensive steel rigging and heavy pipes are commonplace on the oil derricks. Particularly in the early stages of oil field development, these materials are constantly being hoisted into place. It is little surprise that the highest percentage of oil field related fatalities results from laborers being struck by large objects. Workers are asked to construct and tear down riggings and to insert and remove pipe on a regular basis. This contact can lead to injuries and death during the oil exploration process.

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Oil Field Transportation

In the oil field exploration industry, it is common for employees to be transported great distances for work. Travel to and from the oil fields account for a large portion of the oil field related accidents and fatalities. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that highway transportation accidents, including car accidents and trucking accidents, account for 1 in 5 of the worker fatalities associated with oil and gas exploration.

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Oil Field Aircraft and Boating Accidents

Many oil fields, particularly newly developed oil fields, are not accessible from developed roadways. It is common for helicopters and aircraft to transport employees to and from the work sites. When oil fields are located over water or close to rivers or lakes, boats are commonly used to transport oil field employees. This transportation leads to oil field injuries and fatalities related to helicopter accidents, aircraft accidents and boating accidents.

It is the employer's responsibility to ensure that the employees in the oil fields are safe and that workers are exposed to as little potential injury as possible. This responsibility extends to the transportation of the employees to and from the oil field job site. OSHA has put in place numerous requirements for oil related work activities. Employers are required to follow these requirements to protect their employees.

In some cases, proper safety guidelines are not followed by employers, in an effort to save money or for other reasons. Often times other companies or conditions caused by individuals other than an employer can and should be held accountable for your injuries. Certain claims by employees are restricted to Worker's compensation claims or arbitration agreements and your attorney needs to be qualified to fully advise you of your legal rights and remedies.

As in all on the Texas work related accidents, if you are injured working on an oil field site you need attorneys who can guide you through what can be a complicated process. Determining if there is Worker's Compensation Coverage, was the injury or death caused by a third party's negligence, is a general or sub-contractor responsible - not knowing and protecting your rights can cost you and your loved ones. Since there may be applicable notice requirements, contact our office immediately if you have been injured working at, visiting or passing by a oil field site.

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