Oil Field Accident

The oil and gas industries are frequently in the news.

However, media coverage rarely reports on the dangers and hazards that accompanied them.

Over 450,000 workers were employed in the oil and gas extraction and support industries in 2011, according to the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages.

These workers are subjected to dangerous working conditions that can quickly lead to personal injuries if safety measures are not carefully followed.

Fatal Oil Field Injury Statistics

A total of 120 fatal work injuries occurred in the oil and gas extraction injury in one of the last recorded years.

The three (3) most frequent fatal events were:

1. Transportation incidents (41%)
2. Contact with objects and equipment (25%)
3. Fires & explosions (15%).

Men accounted for all of the fatal work injuries in the aforementioned year.

The three (3) states with the most oil and gas extraction industry fatal work injuries in 2008 were:

1. Texas (41 fatal work injuries)
2. Oklahoma (21 fatal work injuries)
3. Louisiana (13 fatal work injuries)

Over the five-year period of 2004-2008, Oklahoma oil field fatal injuries increased by 91%, while Texas has seen an increase of 21% and Louisiana increased by 30%.

Nonfatal Oil Field Injury Statistics

The most recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics suggests the number of total recordable cases of nonfatal injuries and illnesses was more than 4,000 each year from 2004-2007.

The latest report shows that the rate of injuries per 100 full-time workers (4.6) in the oil field industry is higher than the rate per 100 full-time workers for all industries (4.2).

Median days away from work are a key measure of the severity of injuries.

The oil industry had a median of 30 days, which is much higher than the median for all industries of 7 days.

One reason for the high median days away from work is that 25% of injuries with days away from work are fractures, which typically require a long recovery time.

Nearly one-third of all injuries that require days away from work in the oil industry are due to workers being struck by objects.

Oil and gas well drilling and servicing activities involve many different types of equipment and materials.

Recognizing and controlling hazards is critical to preventing injuries and deaths.

Listed below is more information regarding those specific hazards.

Vehicle Collisions

Workers and equipment are required to be transported to and from well sites.

Wells are often located in remote areas and require traveling long distances to get to the job sites.

Highway vehicle crashes are the leading cause of oil and gas extraction worker fatalities.

Roughly four of every ten workers killed on the job in this industry are killed as a result of a highway vehicle accident or trucking accident.

Struck-By/ Caught-In/ Caught-Between Equipment

Three of every five on-site fatalities in the oil and gas extraction industry are the result of struck-by/caught-in/caught-between hazards.

Workers might be exposed to these hazards from multiple sources, including:

• Moving vehicles or equipment
• Falling equipment
• High-pressure lines

Explosions and Fires

Workers in the oil and gas industries face the risk of fire and explosion due to the ignition of flammable vapors or gases.

Flammable gases, such as well gases, vapors, and hydrogen sulfide can be released from wells, trucks, production, or surface equipment such as tanks and shale shakers.

Ignition sources can include:

• Static
• Electrical energy sources
• Open flames
• Lightning
• Cigarettes
• Cutting and welding tools
• Hot surfaces
• Frictional heat

Slips and Falls

Slips and falls can occur within any job industry, but these accidents in the oil field industry may have more severe consequences due to the elevated surfaces.

Workers might be required to access platforms and equipment located high above the ground.

OSHA requires fall protection to prevent falls from the mast, drilling platform, and other elevated equipment.

The following is a list of some of the most common oil field accident injuries.

If you or a loved one have suffered any of these injuries due to an oil field accident you should reach out to an experienced oil field accident lawyer at TorHoerman Law to assess your legal options today:

• Broken Bones
• Burns
• Head and Brain Injuries
• Toxic Exposure

Workers’ compensation insurance provides for the cost of medical care, rehabilitation, and lost wages for injured workers.

Since each state sets its own workers’ compensation laws and benefits, each state has its own department dedicated to handling its workers’ compensation program.

Contact an oil field accident lawyer at TorHoerman Law today to find out if you are eligible to receive financial compensation.

The civil litigation process requires extreme attention to detail and can be overwhelming for someone who does not possess extensive legal knowledge.

It is especially difficult to navigate through legal procedures without an experienced oil field accident lawyer at your service.

Your oil field accident lawyer will have to be able to prove the liability of another for the party for any injuries you have suffered.

Additionally, you will need to be able to show that you attempted to treat your injuries.

Proving mitigation will go a long way toward strengthening your lawsuit.

It is crucial to file your claim before the statute of limitations expires.

The typical statute of limitations extends to about two years after an accident has occurred.

Do not wait until the last minute.

Hiring a personal injury lawyer is not a decision that should be taken lightly.

An oil field accident lawyer can assist you in the process of gather evidence and assessing damages.

Furthermore, your legal representative will be there to help you through your recovery process by making sure you receive the maximum compensation for damages.

At TorHoerman Law, our team of legal experts has won over $4 billion in verdicts and negotiated settlements for our clients.

At TorHoerman Law, we empathize with our clients because we understand how damaging personal injuries can be.

Our oil field accident law firm specializes in oil field injury lawsuits.

We operate on a contingency fee basis.

Thus, you do not owe any payment until you are fully compensated.

If you or a loved one have suffered an injury or loss due to an accident in the oil field industry, you may be entitled to a personal injury settlement.

Contact an oil field accident lawyer at TorHoerman Law today to discuss your legal options.