Brian White | March 25, 2025 | Oil Rig Accidents
Texas leads the nation in the productivity of its oil and gas industry. It operates nearly half of the oil rigs in the United States. Altogether, the Texas oil industry employs over 300,000 workers.
The oil and gas industry tends to pay better than most blue-collar work. Nevertheless, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), oilfield work tends to be more dangerous than most jobs. Accidents and deaths occur at alarming rates. There are several reasons for this, including the following hazards.
Exposure to Hazardous Chemicals
Oilfield workers face frequent exposure to many dangerous chemicals. The most common culprits include hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), benzene, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Repeated exposure to these chemicals can cause a variety of chronic illnesses, including respiratory illness and neurological problems. In many cases the damage is irreversible.
Complicating matters further, some of these chemicals, such as hydrogen sulfide, are difficult to detect even in high concentrations. Exposure often results from leaks, spills, and safety shortcuts taken by profit-hungry employers. Prolonged exposure to some toxic chemicals can result in chronic health problems that don’t surface until years after the last contact. This delay can make it difficult to win a lawsuit without the help of an experienced attorney.
Explosions and Fires
Natural gas is highly flammable; so is crude oil and various other petroleum products. Welding, a spark from malfunctioning equipment, and even static electricity can trigger a deadly explosion. A blowout, which is an uncontrolled release of crude oil, natural gas, or drilling fluids, is a particularly catastrophic event that often kills several people at once.
Indeed, a blowout was what caused the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster, which killed 11 oil workers and generated a fireball visible from 40 miles away.
Heavy Machinery and Equipment
Oilfields use some of the most massive equipment ever built by human hands including oil rigs, drilling rigs, cranes, and pipelines. Mechanical failure, defectively designed or manufactured equipment, and human error all take their toll. Common accidents include:
- Slip and fall accidents
- Crushing accidents
- “Struck-by” accidents where a worker gets hit by heavy machinery
- Crane collapses
Even moderate safety standards demand strict enforcement of safety regulations, regular inspections, employee protective gear, and thorough employee training.
Harsh Weather
Oil companies extract oil wherever they can find it. Texas oilfield workers endure extreme heat, tornadoes, and flash floods, among other weather-related hardships. Extreme weather subjects workers to a variety of hazards.
High winds, for example, can topple machinery, injuring or killing workers. In hot, dry climates like parts of Texas, workers may suffer from heat exhaustion, which can kill if not treated promptly. A hurricane or a tropical storm might strike an offshore oil rig, resulting in structural failures and the emergency evacuation of workers.
Worker Fatigue
Greedy oil companies often push their workers to the limit to meet ambitious production quotas. Imagine the safety consequences of trying to do a dangerous job towards the end of a 16-hour shift, or on four hours of sleep.
Extreme fatigue works a lot like intoxication in its effect on judgment and reaction time. A fatigued oilfield worker might, for example, commit critical errors when operating heavy machinery that can put the lives of other workers in danger.
Do You Need a Lawyer for an Oilfield Accident?
Oilfield accidents and illnesses tend to involve serious damages and large legal claims. Workers’ comp might be an option, but you could also have the chance to file a lawsuit for additional compensation. Either way, you probably need to talk to a lawyer to help you understand the true value of your case. Get started today by contacting an attorney for a free consultation.
Contact a Houston Personal Injury Lawyer to Help You With Your Claim
For more information, contact the Houston personal injury law firm of Attorney Brian White Personal Injury Lawyers by calling (713) 500-5000.
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