Offshore oil and gas production occurs in some of the most unforgiving environments on Earth. The workers who brave these conditions to keep our lights on and cars running face numerous daily hazards.
What are some of the dangers these workers face to provide us with the energy we need?
Accurate statistics are hard to find
It’s challenging to calculate the numbers of the fatalities and injuries of American workers that occur each year within the offshore oil and gas industry. There are a few reasons for this. Injuries and deaths within three nautical miles of shore fall under OSHA standards, while injuries further out to sea must be reported to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement. However, they don’t count accidents that happen during transit to and from the platform or ones that are not work-related.
From the data that can be found, many workers are injured by:
- Falling objects
- Being caught or crushed between machinery
- Exposure to dangerous chemicals
- Hearing loss due to noise from machinery and equipment
- Slips, trips, and falls, including falls from the platform
- Fatigue and stress from isolation and close working environments
In addition to the physical pain and suffering caused by an injury, several financial and legal consequences can result from an offshore accident, such as lost wages and mounting medical bills, leaving an injured worker and their family struggling to make ends meet. If you or a loved one receives a serious injury while working on an offshore rig, you will need help to receive the compensation you need.