Workers of oil fields located throughout the Midwest region of the United States can experience serious personal injuries and work fatalities due to the nature of the job. Frequent contact with explosive and flammable materials, as well as the day to day working conditions all contribute to a dangerous work environment. While many oil field companies have succeeded at lowering the rate of injuries for their employees, injuries still frequently occur.

Local safety laws require oil field employers to take precautions to protect their workers from injuries. Failure to follow these laws is often exhibited by:

• Carelessness or recklessness from the employer
• Failure to properly train employees
• Delays in equipment maintenance or repair
• Failure to properly communicate risks or dangers with employees
• Failure to safely instruct on work procedures
• Safety procedures not in place, maintained, or enforced

Common oil field injuries include:

• Welding accidents
• Slip-and-fall injuries
• Chemical and fire related burns
• Head injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Trucking accidents
• Equipment malfunction
• Brain injuries
• Fire and explosion accidents

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Falling Objects Pose Hazard on Kansas Oil Fields

Massive steel rigging and heavy pipes are found through the oil derricks. The risk of injury to oil field employees is heightened in the early stage of oil field development, when these heavy materials are being hoisted into place for operation. 

The highest percentage of oil field fatalities result from workers being struck by large objects. Oil field accidents also occur when workers must tear down rigging, or insert and remove piping. This high risk environment leads to frequent injuries in the oil exploration process.

Transportation Accidents In the Oil Industry

The oil exploration industry often requires employees to travel great distances for work. Working long days and then traveling great distances to get to and from the job site can lead to another dangerous working condition. Transportation accidents are the second highest reported injury for oil field workers in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.

Key findings from the 2020 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries show that transportation incidents remained the most frequent type of fatal event with 1,778 fatal injuries, accounting for 37.3 percent of all work-related fatalities.

Conversely, a Bureau of Labor and Statistics report from 2012 indicated highway transportation accidents, including car and trucking accidents, accounted for 1 in 5 of the worker fatalities associated with the oil and gas exploration industry.

How to Connect with Oil Field Accident Lawyers

Patterson Legal Group, LC offers free preliminary reviews of oil field worker injury claims. Based on your specific circumstances, our team may refer you to a trusted legal representative in Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma. 

If you, or someone you love, has suffered an injury because of unsafe conditions at an oil field, contact our staff 24/7 for a free case evaluation at 888-687-2400, through the Internet via LiveChat, or by sharing your details through an encrypted contact form.