Houston Oilfield & Refinery Accidents Can Be Deadly

Since 1994, there have been over 500 refinery accidents reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These incidents have contributed to death and injury for thousands of oilfield workers. There are many important facts that you need to know about the risks of oilfield and refinery accidents as a worker or the family member of one. 

If you or a loved one has been injured in a serious oilfield accident in Houston, contact Connolly Law today to discuss your case with an experienced attorney. 

Refinery-Worker Fatalities

There were 1,566 worker fatalities in the oil and gas industry and other related fields across the country from 2008 to 2017. However, this figure is likely much lower than the actual number of deaths suffered by refinery workers. Oil companies have been opting to contract out their most dangerous jobs to subcontractors and smaller companies, with the most prominent of those being drilling oil and gas wells. These jobs are separate from oil and gas production and are instead considered mining for the purposes of reporting. This means that their deaths are stored elsewhere in the federal record. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the most common cause of deadly accidents for oil and gas workers in the course of their jobs is transportation accidents, accounting for nearly 41% of oilfield fatalities in 2008. Contact with objects and equipment was involved in nearly 25% of deadly accidents, followed by fires and explosions at 15%. 

Common Causes of Oil Field and Refinery Accidents

There are many factors that can contribute to a deadly oilfield or refinery accident in Texas, but some of the most common causes of these incidents include the following:

• Improper safety training
• Failure to comply with the law, safety standards, and protocols
• Failure to supply or insufficient safety equipment
• Failure to train and provide visitors with proper safety equipment
• Failure to provide sufficient or functional fire suppression equipment
• Failure to provide routine maintenance to equipment
• Failure to repair or replace faulty equipment
• Faulty design or manufacturing of equipment
• Cracks and fissures in pipes and lines
• Cracks and fissures in storage units
• Improper storage of dangerous fluids
• Failure to report violations

As you can see, there are many potential causes of serious oilfield accidents in Houston, and it is important that you protect yourself if you are injured on the job. 

Oilfield Accidents in Pearland

Texas has the highest rate of fatal oil and gas accidents in the country, with more oilfield deaths than any other state. Connolly Law is here to provide you with help when you need it most. Kevin J. Connolly at Connolly Law believes in giving back to the community, and our legal team is here to help injured parties recover after being injured due to the negligence of a big oil company. Our team of Houston oil rig accident attorneys is here to fight for your legal rights. Give us a call today at 877-CONNLAW to see how we can help.