Oilfield Accidents: How common are oil rig accidents?

Working in the oil field necessitates extreme caution in order to avoid common oilfield accidents such as slips and falls. In the oil and gas business, there are numerous examples of injuries and deaths. You may become a victim if you do not follow safety procedures.

The oil and gas business is a huge source of cash for the United States, bringing in over $100 million per year during the last six years. While the business produces what has been dubbed “liquid gold,” oilfield employees are responsible for most of the industry’s existence. These workers are among the toughest workers in the United States, but their efforts are sometimes overlooked by the general public. Many individuals are completely ignorant that this is one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. We’d like to provide the 5 most prevalent causes of oilfield accidents to address this lack of awareness (and to keep oilfield employees safe).

What are the most common oilfield accidents? 

Injuries in the oil and gas business are at an all-time high in the United States, notably in Texas. Texas accounted for 40% of the 663 workers murdered in U.S. oilfields between 2007 and 2012, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Here are some 5 common oilfield accidents you should know.

1. Slips and Falls
2. Accidental Ignition
3. Accidents involving oil and gas trucks
4. Falling Equipment
5. Failure to Comply with Shutdown Procedures

Slips and Falls

Slips and falls are one of the most prevalent workplace injuries in the world, but working with oil raises the danger of slipping and falling. Because oil molecules slide on top of one another with little to no friction, it poses a considerable slipping danger. As a result, oil is often fluid and slippery, regardless of the surface on which it is applied. Oil spills can cause slipping hazards on dirt, concrete, grass, and other surfaces.

For added aggravation, many companies are completely unaware of the dangers associated with slip and fall accidents. The fact that people fall on a frequent basis gives the impression that slip and fall accidents are just a part of ordinary life. Tripping hazards are perceived as minor issues by businesses who feel they are rarely deemed non-compliant with OSHA rules due to their tiny size. It is unfortunate that this might lead to businesses purposely ignoring slip and fall dangers because they believe that cleaning up the spill will result in a loss of earnings. Many business owners would agree that “time is money,” and devoting time and resources to cleaning up an oil spill that has been contained may be viewed as a waste of time and resources by these individuals.

The reasons for slip and fall accidents will continue to afflict oilfield workers for many years to come as a result of the factors listed above.

Accidental Ignition

The devices that are used to dig for oil, take it from the ground, and store it are often complex pieces of equipment that contain hundreds of small parts. In order for oil workers to achieve their objectives, all of these components must operate smoothly together in order to harness the oil found beneath the earth’s surface. However, ancient machine parts can deteriorate and create inadvertent ignitions, despite the fact that oil workers make every effort to remain safe when handling and operating these machines. In fact, according to one news item from 2017, there were more than a dozen fires and explosions at oil and gas plants in Colorado over the course of an eight-month period. So it stands to reason that fires and explosions are among the most hazardous incidents that can occur in the oil business.

Prevent unintentional ignitions in oilfield jobs by taking the following precautions:

• You should be on the lookout for any indicators of deterioration in your equipment.
• Notifying management when a machine is being used improperly
• Maintaining compliance with safety regulations

Accidents involving oil and gas trucks

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than 40% of all work-related deaths in the oil and gas industry occur as a result of motor vehicle collisions in 2018. Transporting oil from oilfields is a difficult task, and there are typically a large number of vehicles working near rigs to complete the operation successfully. Oilfield workers are frequently preoccupied with their assigned responsibilities and are unable to pay attention to the vehicles that are constantly entering and exiting the facility. Therefore, when traveling near high-risk operations, oilfield truck drivers must take extra care. It is unfortunate that not all drivers exercise the necessary caution, and as a result, workers are occasionally struck by work trucks. If you want to avoid this typical incident, employers should clearly label their trucks with the appropriate flags, and drivers should adhere to basic oilfield etiquette while going in to assist a production operation.

Falling Equipment

When oilfield employees are in close proximity to the source of the operation, they are frequently compelled to wear helmets to protect their heads. Helmets are such an important part of an oilfield worker’s uniform because oil rigs have the potential to trigger falling machinery. A recent study conducted by the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the most common cause of accidents in the oil and gas business is falling debris from collapsed decks or work rigs. In a situation where oilfield workers are constantly dragging poles into and out of the system, a loose part can quickly create a safety threat within seconds. Furthermore, an oil rig failure can propel a variety of mechanical components through the air at great speeds. Therefore, workers should always wear their helmets to avoid suffering serious head injuries on the job.

Failure to Comply with Shutdown Procedures

Blowouts, overturned rigs, and cable failures are all potential causes of catastrophic injuries. When drilling rigs are faulty, employers should cease operations and accept losses. Because not every employer will shut down a business after being made aware of a flaw, this is unfortunate. If the manager or employer had shut down the process and followed correct safety protocols, this may have resulted in a catastrophic accident that could have been avoided totally. Always put your own safety first and refuse to work if you believe a boss is making the wrong decision about whether or not to stop an operation because of a safety threat. It is preferable to remain safe and receive a reprimand than to be caught in an explosion.

Workers who are involved in common oilfield accidents may suffer personal injuries or even death. As a result, when working in an oilfield, you should constantly use extreme caution. Employees who are injured on the job can file a workers’ compensation claim in the event of an accident while on the job.