The Dangers of Oilfield Accidents

Every day throughout Oklahoma, thousands of oilfield and oil rig workers put their lives and livelihoods on the line to help keep America moving. Unfortunately, oil field workers in Texas and Oklahoma know all too well that oilfield explosions and oil rig fires are some of the most common and most deadly workplace accidents within the oil and gas industry, resulting in nearly 100 deaths every year.[1] Even though oil drilling is a dangerous industry, the lives of workers are jeopardized by companies that do not seek to do proper training, have poor safety apparatuses, either ineffective or insufficient safety managers, or create a workplace environment that pressures employees to work beyond their limits. Many times, the incentive for these shortcuts is money at the expense of lives.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) has strict rules and regulations for the drilling, excavating, and field work involving oilfield and oil rigs. There are industry standards that site owners, contractors, repair crews, entities, and others must meet in order to protect those doing the dangerous and difficult job of oil and gas extraction. Even when a company complies with the necessary OSHA regulations, there can still be liability on the part of the company because of their failure to follow industry recommended practices or common-sense safety protocols and procedures.

Oilfield fires and explosions result in traumatic and long-lasting injuries that go beyond the immediate or simply the physical. Victims who survive often require multiple surgeries, long term physical and psychological care, and potentially never fully recover. Such injuries include:

• Broken limbs
• 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd degree burns
• Traumatic Brain Injury due to being struck in the head
• Breathing and respiratory damage
• Exposure to chemical toxins

In 2018, Brewster & DeAngelis represented the family of an oil rig worker who was killed in a catastrophic explosion and fire while working on an oil rig in Southeastern Oklahoma. A lawsuit was filed against the lease operator, drilling contractor and consulting contractor. After thousands of hours of tireless research, countless depositions, interviews, and exacting legal work, Brewster & DeAngelis was able to achieve justice for the family. Brewster & DeAngelis has decades of experience representing injured victims and their families to obtain justice and recovery for their injuries. Click here to read a copy of the lawsuit.

If you or someone you love has been injured while working in an oilfield or on an oil rig, we can help. Contact us today at (918) 265-1214 to schedule a free consultation.