Oil Field Accidents: An Overview of the Causes and Impacts (Pt. 1)

In light of our recent blog on the spike in oil field accident deaths in the U.S. over the past few years, it’s a good time to point out some of the causes of oil field accidents. In this blog series, we will highlight the: 

• Various types of oil field accidents that can occur
• The forms of negligence that often endanger oil field workers, increasing the risk of oil field accidents and ultimately leading to catastrophic – if not fatal – injuries
• Injured workers’ options for compensation when they’ve been hurt in oil field accidents. 

If you or a loved one has been hurt in any type of oil field accident, don’t hesitate to contact the Mount Vernon oil field accident lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. We have the experience and skills you can rely on to help you hold the negligent parties accountable and to help you obtain the full amount of compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses.

Types of Oil Field Accidents

When oil field accidents occur, these incidents can take many forms, only some of which include:

• Heavy machinery accidents
• Crushing accidents
• Falling accidents (including both workers falling from heights and objects falling on top of workers)
• Explosions and fires
• Oil well blowouts and gushers
• Gas leaks
• Deck collapses
• Other rig malfunctions.

Causes of Oil Field Accidents

When any of the above-mentioned oil field accidents occur, negligence may be a factor in causing these accidents and the resulting injuries. Some of the most common forms of negligence that often play a role in contributing to oil field accidents include (but are by no means limited to):

• Workers’ inexperience and lack of training, which can lead to workers’ making mistakes when maintaining rigs, failing to notice problems or issues that can lead to serious accidents, etc.
• The intense demands of the job, which often require oil field workers to cover long shifts, which can range from 12 to 14 hours per day for two weeks on end, increasing the chances of on-the-job fatigue and exhaustion
• Lack of employer-provided protections for workers, which can be a particular problem when workers’ don’t have the gear necessary to safely work outdoors year round
• Lax hiring standards, as the rush to hire new workers and meet the growing drilling demands in the U.S. often leads oil companies to cut essential procedures out of the hiring process (like, for instance, conducting background checks and/or drug testing on potential new hires).

For our continued discussion of oil field accidents, be sure to check out the upcoming second part of this blog series.

Mount Vernon Oil Field Accident Lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C.

Have you or a loved one been hurt in an oil field accident? Or have you lost a loved one in a fatal oil field accident? If so, the Mount Vernon oil field accident lawyers at the Law Firm of Hassakis & Hassakis, P.C. are here for you. 

You can receive a professional, free case evaluation by setting up an initial consultation with us. To schedule this meeting, call (888) 896-9381 or email us using the form at the upper right-hand side of the page. We can provide you with a thorough assessment of your case, along with professional advice regarding the best manner in which to move forward with your claim.