The oil and gas industry is known as one of the most dangerous industries to work in. While it helps keep the American economy moving, the number of accidents and fatalities is shocking.
Unfortunately, employers in the gas and oil industry don't always provide the safest work environment for employees to work in.
When injuries occur, it's always best to speak with oilfield injury lawyers after seeking medical treatment. Workplace accidents in the oil and gas industry tend to be serious because of the extreme nature of the work, which is why it's best to speak with oilfield injury lawyers to protect your rights.
Here are some of the most common workplace accidents that occur in the gas and oil industry.
Slip & Fall Injuries
Working in the gas and oil industry is not your typical career because it comes with some pretty extreme risks. One of the most common workplace injuries that occur is a slip and fall. It's easy to make a wrong move and end up in an accident when working on an elevated rig around moving machinery. Slip and fall injuries are common in the industry and can often be avoided with the proper safeguards.
Injuries Due to Equipment Malfunctions
Extracting oil from deep beneath the earth's crust requires some pretty massive machinery and sometimes malfunctions causing severe injury or even a fatality. This heavy equipment can malfunction due to human error, a manufacturer's error, or even improper maintenance. When this heavy equipment malfunctions, the injuries caused can be catastrophic.
Injuries Due to Rig Collapse
Oil rigs weigh multiple tons and can be incredibly dangerous when not properly constructed or maintained. They are huge pieces of intricate machinery weighing thousands of thousands of pounds. Rig collapse injuries can be fatal for workers who are high up or even trapped underneath when they collapse.
Injuries Due to Fire & Explosion
Workers in the oil and gas industry work with volatile chemicals and high heat creating a high potential for explosions and fire. Unfortunately, the industry is known for dangerous fires and explosions that seriously injure oil and gas workers. Many fires and explosions could be avoided with the proper precautions, but they are often not always put in place.
Injuries Due to Poisonous Gas
The dangerous process of extracting oil often releases poisonous gases, like hydrogen sulfide, into the workspace. The gas is colorless but poses an extreme hazard to oil and gas workers who are often not provided protective respiratory equipment. The gas collects in enclosed spaces and is fatal to unprotected workers.
Electrocution
The powerful oil equipment operated by oil and gas workers requires massive amounts of electricity. An electric surge or shock can be catastrophic for oil and gas workers. Oil drilling also often takes place in remote locations where workers are surrounded by soaring metal equipment making them vulnerable to lightning strikes. The remote locations of the oil fields make emergency response difficult leaving many workplace accidents to be fatal.
Talk to Oilfield Injury Lawyers Today
The oil and gas industry is one of the most hazardous industries to work in because of the extreme nature of the work and the remote location. If you or a loved one has been the victim of an on-the-job injury in the oil and gas industry, talk to experienced oilfield injury lawyers today. The right oilfield injury lawyers will help protect your rights and get you the compensation you deserve.
