There is no denying that oil fields are known to be one of the most dangerous places to work. With the recent oil boom in Texas and throughout the country, the number of oil field accidents has increased drastically.
From 2008 to 2012, the total number of fatalities reported from the oil fields throughout the U.S. was 545, based on a report by the Houston Chronicle. Out of those deaths, 216 happened in Texas. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Texas accounted for approximately 40% of deaths in the oil field industry.
Since the beginning of the onshore drilling and fracking boom in 2007, government data and public records of oil field accidents show the federal government failed to implement safety standards and procedures. In addition, there has been a lack of government inspections and inferior practices by many oil and gas companies, resulting in serious and fatal injuries to workers.
With accidents and fatalities occurring gradually instead of one large-scale disaster, they have mainly been kept under the radar and out of the national spotlight. In fact, OSHA does not have specific oil and gas regulations. Furthermore, only a few of the 95 health and safety inspectors in Texas do not possess experience or training in the industry.
Fortunately, OSHA has made it a priority to overturn these dangerous conditions in the oil industry and make it a safer place for oil field workers.
For more information about how you can obtain the compensation you need to recover from your oil field accident, please do not hesitate to contact The Law Office of George P. Escobedo & Associates, PLLC today. ¡Hablamos español!