The oil and gas sector pays more than most jobs do; oilfield employees can make six figures in income, particularly during a drilling boom. Oil field workers must operate heavy machinery under intense pressure to extract as much oil and gas as they can, as soon as they can. Oil field employees are subjected to kicks, blowouts, and enormous explosions. Oil field injuries are devastating.
You could feel afraid and unclear of what to do if an oilfield explosion leaves you gravely hurt. Although the gas extraction sector is notoriously hazardous. This does not guarantee that you will be prepared in an emergency.
This article serves as a guide on oilfield explosion. It discusses oil field explosion common dangers. It also discusses causes of oil field explosion and what to do after it occurs.
What is an Oil Field?
An area of land known as an oil field is one from which fossil fuels can be economically exploited. It is a location, either on land or in the sea, where there are oil wells. It is a piece of land that contains crude oil or natural gas. This region can be vast and span several miles. Numerous oil or gas wells are frequently drilled by oil corporations in a single oilfield.
Common Dangers Associated with Accidents in Oil Fields
Oil field work can be hazardous. This profession has a reputation for producing fatal and catastrophic injuries. This is why oilfield injury lawyers are constantly busy advising employees affected in oil field explosions. An oilfield injury lawyer is a personal injury lawyer who assists injured oilfield employees in pursuing financial compensation.
The following are some of the most typical risks encountered by oilfield workers.
Transportation Accidents: Oilfield truck accidents and other transportation-related mishaps are the industry’s biggest source of fatalities. The main causes of these accidents are long and irregular work hours, exhaustion, and poor road conditions. Another cause is traveling in bad weather.
Blowouts and Explosions: Exposure to volatile gasses and hydrocarbons occurs during drilling. Any kick, leak, spill, or spark has the potential to result in a catastrophic blowout and explosion.
Trips and Falls: Serious injuries from slips and falls could potentially put an end to your career as an oilfield worker. When working on elevated rigs, watch that you don’t omit any steps. Wearing the proper gear will typically prevent you from suffering from broken bones.
Electrical Hazards: Workers on rigs may potentially be exposed to danger from unchecked electrical energy. The danger of major and deadly accidents will be reduced by clearly designating ground connections. Also, providing operating instructions, and properly following lockout procedures before repairs will help.
Common Causes of Oil Accidents
- Inadequate Safety Procedures: Drillers occasionally neglect to do essential safety checks. They neglect to maintain equipment and make prompt repairs. Also, most employees are not taught safety regulations and procedures.
- Defective Oil Field Supply Equipment: Equipment failures can cause fires, explosions, and blowouts. They can also cause electrocutions and other types of catastrophic accidents.
- Unskilled Laborers: Oilfield workers are typically in short supply during a drilling boom. Drilling companies might employ personnel who lack the expertise necessary to do their duties safely.
- Employee Fatigue: During boom times, oilfield workers frequently put in long hours and overtime. Many of these workers frequently experience weariness. This frequently plays a role in catastrophic and fatal oilfield and drilling rig accidents.
How to Respond to an Explosion or Accident in an Oilfield?
1. Contact a Lawyer
You must immediately obtain legal counsel from a qualified oil field injury following the accident. That attorney ought to have a track record of success defending individuals who sustained injuries in oil rig explosion incidents.
Without an attorney present, avoid speaking with any insurance representatives, including your own. Your lawyer will defend your claim and watch out for any statements you might make or unfair settlement offers you could receive.
You should avoid speaking with the claims adjuster until you have had a chance to speak with an oilfield injury lawyer and have recovered from your injuries. This is because any statements you make to them are likely to be recorded. The lawyers will take your matter to court if they are unable to reach an amicable solution.
2. Check for Injuries
Your health and safety are the most crucial factors following an oil rig explosion catastrophe. Check yourself and any other victims for injuries as soon as possible following the oil rig explosion accident.
Get medical help as soon as you can. You may have internal wounds that aren’t immediately apparent. Getting medical help right away might save your life. Seeking medical attention provides documentation that can be used in a personal injury lawsuit later on.
3. Run to Safety
Your health and safety are the most crucial factors following an oil rig catastrophe. Get to the safety area as soon as you can move without hurting yourself anymore. Depending on the severity of the accident, you may need to evacuate the rig.
Some oil rig decompression accidents can trigger a series of events that result in even more harm and injury. Protect yourself by leaving the rig altogether or moving to a more secure location.
4. Notify Supervisors and Superiors
The timely notification also serves to prove that you were concerned about your injuries and that they were related to your job. Timely notifications also allow you to receive workers’ compensation payments.
5. Get Medical Care
Even if you believe your wounds are minimal, you should insist on being examined right away following the collision by the doctor of your choice. Sometimes injuries that appear to be minor are the first sign that something is badly wrong. Additionally, your medical records will contain crucial documentation of your wounds, medical care, and outlook.
Attend all medical appointments and obey your doctor’s advice. This is because of your employer, its insurance provider, and its workers’ compensation provider. They will take missed appointments or disregard medical advice as a chance to contest the severity of your injuries.
6. Document What You Saw
Document the Scene: At the earliest opportunity, put everything you recall about the occurrence in writing. Include the names and contact information of any witnesses. If you can, visit the oil rig accident area and take photos.
Even though the authorities will compile their accident report, it is useful to record the events yourself. Obtain contact information from other rig personnel who were involved in or saw the accident. Gather any other evidence that could support a claim for damages in the future.
Take Photos or Videos: If you can, document the accident with as many pictures and videos as you can. Your photos should show where the equipment was located, any injuries you or others may have suffered, and any illustrative details.
Talk to Witnesses: If at all possible, gather the names and contact details of any witnesses to the oilfield disaster. Witness testimonies are useful when you want to get paid for your suffering.
7. Ask for Compensation
Your injuries may be the fault of your employer. Employers are required to offer safety supplies, gear, and instruction. They owe you a duty of care, and you have the right to recompense if they don’t.
Liability insurance is carried out by oilfield firms. You can make a claim against this coverage with the aid of an attorney. To obtain compensation, you could potentially bring a personal injury case.
8. Call Law Enforcement
As soon as you can, get in touch with the authorities. If you need to concentrate on getting medical help, you can send someone else.
Authorities will be able to take pictures of the accident scene, write an accident report, and interview witnesses. They will also be able to gather more information about it that can be utilized in a personal injury lawsuit later on.
Conclusion
An oil field explosion can leave a chaotic wake. After an oil rig catastrophe, it’s critical to identify the responsible party. It identifies the person accountable for your injury. However, that does not imply that you should put off seeking legal counsel. After taking pictures of the accident scene and getting medical attention, you should contact a lawyer. Finally, let your employer know about your injuries.
