The Dangers of Oil and Gas Extraction: Avoiding Falls

Every workplace carries with it some degree of risk of injury for workers, but some industries, such as oil and gas extraction, are more dangerous than others. PBS News reports that, on average, one oil field worker dies about very six weeks on the job in the Bakken fields, which tend to get a lot of press. But Oklahoma sees its fair share of deaths in the fields, too. Insider Energy named Oklahoma the fourth most dangerous place for oil and gas industry work in 2014.

Though the number of fatalities has dropped over the last couple of years, massive layoffs and plant closings in 2016, and continued low prices for crude oil, have probably impacted these numbers for 2017. When there are fewer workers in the plants and in the field, the chance of serious or fatal injury increases.

When a worker in any industry dies in a workplace accident, the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) investigates the cause of the worker’s death and what safety measures were or were not in place at the time of the accident. OSHA reports that between 2003 and 2010, 823 oil and gas extraction workers were killed on the job, which is a worker fatality rate that is seven times greater than for all other U.S. industries. Of all the dangerous aspects of working in the field, falls proved to be the most common – and the deadliest ­– in recent years.

How can you prevent a fatal fall?

There is no way to eliminate all risk of a fall; rigs are tall, slippery and exposed to the elements all day, every day. Climbing around on them is a risk – period. However, there are some precautions you can take that could help protect you and your fellow crew members from serious injuries in the patch:

1. Make sure your helmet fits properly and has no cracks or breaks. Once of the biggest concerns in a fall – even from a relatively low height – is head injury. Protect your head at all costs.
2. Double check your harness and the lifelines. If you see fraying, tearing or general wear and tear, replace your gear. If you notice problems or defects with the lifeline, tell the rig supervisor.
3. If the guardrails seem weak or loose, don’t get up there. We know that a certain amount of wiggle room is unavoidable, but if you see defects, loose bolts or erosion, let someone know.
4. Get yourself a spotter. Don’t climb anything alone. Make sure you have a spotter there to watch your back – and who can alert the right people if something starts to go awry.
5. Take the training course. Whether you’ve been on the rig for four months or four decades, a refresher course is always a good idea. Most companies require a refresh every two years or so, but taking a safety course more often than that is still a good idea.

The safety of the rig and its workers falls to the company, but taking a few steps to protect yourself may help you avoid a serious fall. If you do sustain an injury while in the fields, Cunningham & Mears is here to help. Our Oklahoma oilfield injury lawyers have been been protecting the rights of workers for decades. Please call 405-232-1212 or fill out our contact form to learn more.