Jason Stephens | June 24, 2024 | Workplace Accident
Oil rig employees often enjoy generous salaries for working only a few months out of the year. Unfortunately, the benefits of an oil rig job can be undercut by the many job risks. An oil rig is a dangerous place to work, and employees frequently suffer serious or even fatal injuries on the job.
The Top Oil Rig Job Hazards
An oil rig has no shortage of work site dangers.
According to OSHA, some of the top safety risks for workers in the oil industry include:
- Explosions
- Fires
- Falls
- Slip and fall accidents
- Struck by or caught-between accidents
- Machinery accidents
- Electrocution
Those who work on oil rigs are additionally at risk of water-related injuries, like drowning or brain injury due to oxygen deprivation.
Many of the most common oil rig dangers are similar to those of other industries. For example, workers who deal with heavy machinery are always at risk of suffering accidents that involve being struck by equipment or caught between moving parts.
Oil Rig Worker Injury Statistics
Certain types of workplace incidents, such as fires, impact oil rig workers at a higher rate than employees in other fields. The Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) tracks statistics for offshore injuries and deaths.
In a recent year, oil rig worker injury and incident stats reported by the BSEE included:
- 199 injuries
- 1 fatality
- 126 fires
- 1 explosion
- 333 lifting incidents
When oil rig workers are involved in accidents that include fire or heavy equipment malfunction, there’s a high risk of serious injuries. In such cases where oil rig injuries are severe or permanent, it’s essential for the injured worker to consult an oil rig accident lawyer for help obtaining fair compensation.
Another common issue with oil rig injuries is access to appropriate medical care. While workers typically receive some type of treatment while on board, oil rigs are not equipped to provide serious medical care, such as that needed for severe burns. A worker’s condition could worsen due to the delay in getting them to the nearest medical facility that can treat their injuries.
Compensation For an Oil Rig Work Injury
Oil rig injuries can take a serious toll on a worker’s finances and quality of life. Even when injuries have the potential to result in an eventual full recovery, lost wages and medical expenses can have a serious negative impact on the worker’s financial well-being.
When an oil rig worker suffers a permanent injury, the long-term cost is even higher. Oil rig accidents that result in brain injuries, spinal injuries, amputations, and severe burns often lead to lifelong medical and attendant care expenses. At the same time, the worker and their loved ones lose out on income they had been relying on.
Oil rig injury compensation can provide reimbursement for all these costs and more. However, it’s essential to promptly seek out the help of a personal injury lawyer who has experience handling oil rig accident cases.
Get Legal Help After Suffering Oil Rig Injuries
If you’re an oil rig worker who was injured on the job, you need to understand what’s at stake after your accident. For serious injuries, compensation can often reach six or seven figures. However, it’s crucial that you involve an experienced oil rig injury attorney as soon as possible.
Money can’t undo the damage caused by an oil rig accident. However, understanding how to protect yourself can help ensure you and your loved ones don’t struggle financially due to oil rig accident injuries.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Fort Worth, TX
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Fort Worth and need legal help, contact our Fort Worth personal injury lawyers at Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents to schedule a free consultation.
Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
1300 S University Dr # 406
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 420-7000
Stephens Law Personal Injury | Wrongful Death | Truck Accidents
109 York Ave Suite #201
Weatherford, TX 76086
(817) 409-7000