Oil field workers have a dangerous job. And sometimes this job results in serious injuries and even death. Fortunately, a fire south of Midway at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice’s Ferguson Unit didn’t result in death, but it did injure four workers.
According to the Madisonville Meteor, the accident happened as four workers were painting equipment on top of an oil tank. The tank battery caught fire, sending flames shooting at least ten feet into the air.
Local agencies, including the Department of Criminal Justice, Guardian EMS, DPS troopers, the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and the Madisonville Police Department, responded. Three of the workers were airlifted, and another was treated at the scene. Their identities and conditions were not revealed per their employer’s procedures. All four are employed by Universal Oilfield Services. According to the Madisonville Meteor report,
“The U.S Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) would be the lead investigator in this incident as it involved worker injuries,” said Ramona Nye, RRC media affairs office. “The Railroad Commission’s investigation found no spills associated with this incident.”
The oil industry is a dangerous one. Not only are you around flammable materials, but you are often working with heavy equipment—either of which could lead to life-changing or life-ending injuries. Even transportation jobs within the oil industry are dangerous, as revealed through this NY Times report last spring:
Over the past decade, more than 300 oil and gas workers like Mr. Roth were killed in highway crashes, the largest cause of fatalities in the industry. Many of these deaths were due in part to oil field exemptions from highway safety rules that allow truckers to work longer hours than drivers in most other industries, according to safety and health experts.
Many oil field truckers say that while these exemptions help them earn more money, they are routinely used to pressure workers into driving after shifts that are 20 hours or longer.
Regardless of how the accident happens, when you are hurt while on the job, you could be entitled to compensation. Injuries are costly—from the medical bills to the time missed from work.
About Kevin Krist, Houston Personal Injury Lawyer
Serious accidents are nearly a weekly occurrence in the oil fields. These accidents can leave their victims crippled or scarred for life. When this occurs, someone must be held responsible. As a personal injury attorney in Houston, I have seen the results of accidents like these and know what you go through when you find yourself in a situation like this.
If you’ve been seriously injured while working in the oil industry, contact me today. I can be reached for a free consultation at 281-677-3961.
