What Are the Most Dangerous Oilfield Jobs?

Posted on

There are a lot of dangerous jobs out there, but oilfield jobs are some of the most dangerous of all. Within this risky category of work, some jobs are more deadly than others.

If you or someone you love is an oilfield worker who’s been injured on the job as a result of your employer or someone else’s negligence, obtaining just compensation is paramount. Work with an experienced Texas oilfield injury attorney to protect your best interests.

The Most Dangerous Oilfield Tasks

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the following sobering statistics apply to oil and gas extraction workers:

  • About 4 out of every 10 occupational fatalities in this field are directly related to highway vehicle incidents – when workers and equipment are transported to and from the well sites.
  • About 3 out of every 5 fatalities on the job result from accidents involving being struck by, caught in, or caught between hazards, such as equipment, falling equipment, motor vehicles, high-pressure lines, and beyond.

How Dangerous Is Oil Rig Work?

In a sea of dangerous tasks, there are several that claim the mantle of most dangerous when it comes to oilfields.

Driving

The most dangerous job when it comes to oilfield work doesn’t happen on the oilfield at all. Instead, oilfield workers are at the greatest risk when traveling for work. The long, grueling hours they put in increase the risk of dangerous driving accidents.

Oilfield Drivers

Oilfield drivers can spend up to 20 hours a row behind the wheels of exceptionally heavy and exceptionally dangerous oilfield vehicles. When these vehicles don’t receive the repairs, maintenance, and inspections they require, they become that much more dangerous.

Roustabouts

Roustabouts refer to entry-level oil workers who are called upon to do a wide range of dangerous jobs, including:

  • Transporting material
  • Maintaining equipment
  • Handling cargo

The hours tend to be long, and the work is both physically and mentally taxing, making each dangerous task much more difficult.

Derrick Operators

Derrick operators engage in every manner of dangerous task on the oil derricks, including building, operating, managing, servicing, and inspecting each component. This leaves them exceptionally vulnerable to dangerous accidents, such as the following:

  • Crushing accidents
  • Slip and fall accidents are made all the more dangerous by heights
  • Accidents involving falling objects

The fact that derrick operators work exhausting hours in every category of extreme weather doesn’t help the situation.

Rig Operators

Rig operators are also known as drillers and are directly involved in supervising the whole crew when oil extraction is happening. The job includes regulating problems that may arise during the drilling process. Rig operators shoulder immense responsibility for the safety of everyone involved in the drilling process. It can prove exceptionally dangerous when they lack the necessary experience, training, knowledge, or skill.

Rig Managers

The oil rig manager is often called the toolpusher, and this job refers to the oil rig’s primary supervisor. Oil rig managers oversee every position filled at the work site – and support positions – and take on a leadership role. While the job of rig manager and rig operator overlap considerably, the rig manager is responsible for overseeing the original rig installation and ensuring that EPA and governmental regulations are complied with at every level.

Your Oilfield Injury Claim

If you are an oilfield worker who has been injured on the job as a result of your employer’s negligence – or worse – your losses can be immense. Still, a dedicated oilfield injury attorney will skillfully advocate for compensation that fairly addresses your complete damages in each applicable category.

Your Medical Expenses

The serious injuries that oilfield accidents tend to cause can lead to cascading medical expenses in the present, but they can also lead to significant healthcare needs in the future. Serious injuries are closely associated with secondary health conditions and challenging complications. Ensuring that your claim addresses your losses in their entirety can play a critical role in your ultimate recovery.

Your Lost Earnings

Even a relatively minor injury can leave you off the rig for a considerable amount of time. If you’re seriously injured, you could be looking at an altered career trajectory. If your earning potential is affected, your lost income throughout your career can prove financially devastating.

Your Physical and Emotional Pain and Suffering

The physical and emotional toll paid as a result of a terrifying oilfield accident is difficult to overstate. The pain and suffering you endure can have overarching consequences that can make your physical and financial recovery much more challenging. No aspect of your losses should be minimized, including the physical and emotional pain and suffering you are subjected to.

Call an Experienced Texas Oilfield Injury Attorney Today

The formidable oilfield injury attorneys at Haun Mena in Houston dedicate their impressive practice to helping injured clients like you obtain the compensation to which they are entitled and that they need to regain their health and well-being to the degree possible.

Your claim is important, and we’re here to help, so please don’t hesitate to contact or call us at 713-561-5334 for more information today.

FAQs About Oilfield Work Injuries

How can an attorney help?

Your dedicated oilfield injury attorney will compile all the relevant evidence in support of your strongest claim and in pursuit of the compensation to which you are entitled. This includes skillfully negotiating with the involved insurance company and staying the course until the matter is resolved as favorably as possible.

What if I can’t afford an attorney?

Most reputable oilfield injury attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means you won’t owe anything until your claim is successfully resolved. You owe a prearranged percentage to your attorney only if you receive a settlement or court award.

What is the most dangerous oilfield job?

The most dangerous oilfield job of all is driving, which accounts for 40 percent of industry fatalities.

 

How Can We Help?

START YOUR CASE FOR FREE BELOW:

We started Haun Mena with a simple philosophy: Your case deserves top-notch service,
no matter whether it’s big or small.

YOU GET PERSONALIZED SERVICE ALL THE TIME.

AVAILABLE 24/7 | FREE CASE REVIEW

100% Secure & Confidential

Haun Mena Logo in White

Get in touch with us today to get started with your FREE case review. We’re only a call, click, or short drive away.