It goes without saying that working in the oil and gas extraction industries is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. According to a report last year from the Houston Chronicle, during the drilling and fracking boom from 2007 and 2012, 663 workers in oilfield industries nationwide died. These dangers are a stark reality for the many workers throughout Texas working in that industry.
Of the 663 fatalities, workers in Texas accounted for 40% of the fatalities. In 2012, there were 65 deaths, which marked a 10-year high for fatalities and represented a 60% increase over the number of fatalities the prior year. In addition to fatalities, there are numerous other devastating injuries that occur at oilfields. The Houston Chronicle found that in 2012 alone 79 people lost limbs, 82 people were crushed, 92 people suffered burns, and 675 people broke bones at oil and gas drilling work sites.
Results of Investigation into Oilfield Accidents
The Houston Chronicle performed a yearlong investigation, combing over 18,000 injury and illness claims reviewed by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, as well as other public records for oilfield accidents. The results of the investigation do not instill much confidence in employers abilities to implement adequate safety procedures or in government agencies to investigate the employers. Some of the pertinent findings include:
- Over the past 22 years, the federal government has failed to implement safety standards and procedures for onshore oil and gas drilling.
- OSHA investigates accidents where only one worker is killed or three or more workers are hospitalized. In Texas alone, this meant that OSHA investigated only about 150 of the 18,000 work-related accidents.
- Of the claims investigated by OSHA, the administration found that 78% could have been prevented with safer procedures or equipment.
Even under ideal circumstances and working conditions, jobs in the oil and gas drilling industries are inherently dangerous and involve a level of risk not present in most jobs. This does not mean, however, that workers should be subjected to unsafe work conditions with a lack of government oversight. An experienced oilfield accident attorney can help you protect your rights.
Contact a Texas Oilfield Accident Attorney
If your or a loved one has been injured in an oilfield accident, a Texas oilfield accident lawyer can help you with your case. Zehl & Associates’ oilfield accident attorneys have extensive experience helping victims recover compensation for their injuries suffered in oilfield or oil rig accidents.
From investigating the accident site, to handling insurance claims, to filing a lawsuit, we will make sure that you obtain the compensation you deserve. Zehl & Associates’ attorneys have unparalleled success helping injured workers protect their rights. In the past three years alone, our firm has recovered over $1 Billion in settlements and verdicts for injured workers across the country. Our attorneys will fight for your rights and help you to get your life back on track.
Contact Zehl & Associates oilfield accident lawyers today for a free initial consultation and case evaluation. Call one of our oilfield accident lawyers at 1-888-603-3636.