The Dangers of Working on an Oil Rig
February 12, 2025 | Sagi Shaked | Personal Injury
Workplace hazards can become magnified on an oil rig. An oil rig’s environment can make treating injuries complex and even lead to devastating outcomes. Compensation for your damages in an oil rig accident may be possible through a workers’ compensation claim, personal injury claim, or both. Learn more here.
Proximity to Care
Rapid, responsive care is critical in an oil rig accident. Oil rig locations and the inability to promptly access extensive medical services may increase the dangers to workers. Comprehensive medical care plans and trained medics are vital to treating and stabilizing workers in life-threatening situations.
Heavy, High-Pressured Equipment
Oil rig equipment poses dangers to workers when blowouts, crushing, caught-between, and struck-by incidents occur. Equipment and machinery incidents may result from operator mistakes, subcontractor errors, poor maintenance, a failure to observe safety precautions, or defective products.
Heavy equipment produces dangers that may lead to significant harm, including brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. A personal injury lawyer with experience in workplace injuries will consider all the factors to determine what type of claim you should file in an oil rig accident.
Explosion and Fire
The products extracted by oil rigs are primary agents that create fires and explosions. Additionally, any of the tasks performed on an oil rig can create the conditions that make these dangers an ongoing safety threat.
Emergency shutdown systems and blowout preventers should work properly to prevent injury. Trained operators are critical to initiating the shutdown process. In worst-case scenarios, dangers to oil rig workers during the manual shutdown process can lead to significant burn injuries or death.
Chemical Exposure
The dangers of chemical exposure on oil rigs can be immediate or compound over time. Chemical exposure can produce skin irritation and burns, eye damage, respiratory conditions, and damage to mucous membranes. Long-term exposure to total petroleum hydrocarbons (a family of chemicals contained in crude oil).
Environmental Hazards
Weather impacts the complex procedures performed on an oil rig. Extreme temperatures, rain, winds, and extended sun exposure may create treacherous working conditions that escalate accident and injury risks. Slip and fall accidents may become more common with extreme weather.
Safety training and personal protective equipment are critical in protecting workers from dangerous environmental hazards on an oil rig. Following OSHA guidelines to avoid safety violations may also minimize dangers in hazardous environmental conditions.
What to Do After an Oil Rig Accident
Even the most diligent workers may be impacted by oil rig dangers. Getting immediate medical care is the most critical step to take. The initial medical care you receive begins the documentation process of your injuries and their cause. Failing to receive treatment may result in injuries attributed to other causes, impacting your financial recovery.
Follow company reporting procedures to document the incident. With a lawyer’s help, you should document the accident scene, including the cause of the accident and your injuries, through photos. Ask for eyewitness contact information. Complete your medical treatment plan.
If your oil rig accident has resulted in injuries, a lawyer can provide compassionate and relentless legal representation while you focus on your recovery.
Contact Our Personal Injury Law Firm in Miami, FL
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Miami, FL and need legal help, contact our Miami personal injury lawyers at Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers to schedule a free consultation.
Shaked Law Personal Injury Lawyers
20900 NE 30th Ave Suite 715
Aventura, FL 33180
(305) 937-0191