The high rate of injury among Texas’ oil and gas industry workers has multiple causes. An issue with the soil or the buildings, along with human mistake and faulty drilling equipment, can lead to catastrophic mishaps in the oil industry. Houston oilfield accident lawyer elaborates The following are some of the most typical causes of oilfield accidents in Texas:

• Mishaps In Transit

Vehicle accidents are a leading source of death for oil workers, along with controlled explosions and drilling. Nearly half of all fatalities among oilfield workers occur in commuter vehicles.

Oilfield personnel have long commutes since they have to drive to their drill sites, and many of them are located in remote locations. Additionally, many rural places don’t enforce traffic regulations as strictly as busy cities. Because of these causes, oilfield workers are overrepresented in fatal and seriously injured auto accidents. Oilfield workers frequently suffer from weariness on the road, which contributes to the frequency with which these incidents occur on the way to and from work.

• Fires And Explosions

Petroleum and natural gas are notoriously combustible, and this is common knowledge. Due of this, employees are vulnerable to harm in the event of an explosion or fire at or nearby their place of employment.

Heat or sparks from numerous sources, such as power tools, fumes, smoking, gas, welding, static & friction ignite volatile hydrogen sulphide, fire hazards, electric sparks, and lighting, are some of the primary contributors to explosions in the oil and gas business. Other potential causes of explosions in this industry include open flames, electric reignites, and lighting. Flammable materials often leak from surface machinery like tanks, vehicles, wells, and shakers without being noticed.

• Dangers Of Confined Spaces And Chemical Exposure

Petcoke can also be dangerous for those who operate in the oil industry. This is the name for the poisonous, heavy dust that is produced when refining tar sands for oil. Workers who are subjected to these chemicals over extended periods of time may have a variety of health problems.

• Problems with breathing
• Angina attacks
• Injury to the lungs
• Chronic respiratory illness
• Cancers

Many oilfield workers experience these circumstances despite rules requiring environmental monitoring in restricted quarters.

• Accidents Crush And Trap Victims

Accidents like as being caught between objects or being struck by or crushed are also common in the oil field. Numerous “pockets” in the oil and gas industry’s machinery are the cause of worker entrapment and subsequent crushing. When an inattentive motorist strikes someone or accidentally rear-ends them with heavy machinery, the victim is often crushed. Worker injuries can also be caused by tools, pipelines, and other equipment that falls.

• Accidents Involving Pressurized Machinery

Pressure explosions caused by pipeline corrosion or trapped gas are another potential hazard in addition to the previously discussed heat explosions. Weak, faulty, or outdated machinery is a major contributor to these explosions since it is more likely to fail under strain.

Debris floating into the region from this can cause harm. TBIs and chest wounds are possible by even a small piece of pipe travelling at great speed. Many of these mishaps happen, sadly, because drill sites and their owners don’t practise enough preventative maintenance and safety procedures.

• Tumbles

Severe injuries in the oilfield frequently result from falls from great heights. High up on offshore platform Ncvle and masts is where many oilfield employees spend their days. This is because slips and falls are more common in these places because they are typically grimy and moist.

Final Thoughts

Although OSHA’s fall prevention recommendations are intended to mitigate such incidents, they are not always adhered to. Site owners also don’t always do what they should to address hazards like wet floors and other potentially hazardous situations.