Burleson County Oil Rig Explosion Lawyers
After Oil Rig Explosion, We Fight for the Compensation Workers Deserve
It’s no secret: oilfield work is one of the most dangerous jobs in America.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA) knows that oilfield workers face a substantial risk of injury and death. It provides specific sets of standards designed to keep oilfield workers as safe as possible. These standards are designed to stop workers from suffering from preventable accidents. However, oil and gas companies are responsible for making sure these guidelines are carefully implemented, and many of them fail to do so. Serious and preventable oil rig explosions shatter the lives of oilfield workers and their families because of the disregard for safety.
If you’re suffering after a Burleson County oil rig explosion, help is available. At Arnold & Itkin LLP, we’ve made it our mission to be the voice that oilfield workers and their families deserve after the unthinkable happens. We know that oil rig explosions are always preventable. We know that companies must protect their workers, and we’re ready to fight for the justice that you deserve.
If you or a loved one was injured or killed during a Burleson County oil rig explosion, call Arnold & Itkin today at (888) 493-1629. A consultation with our team is free!
What Causes Oil Rig Explosions?
Oil rigs have a high risk of explosion because of the machinery used to operate and the constant presence of highly-combustible substances. A single mistake is enough to spark a catastrophic explosion on an oil rig. For this reason, companies must eliminate every hazard on their drilling rigs proactively.
Some examples of potential hazards that may cause explosions:
- Improperly grounded electrical equipment or wiring
- Defective ventilation systems that cause a back-up of hazardous fumes
- Improperly stored fuel or other combustible substances
- Poorly maintained pipelines that leak or spray fuel
- Improper use of welding devices or torches near combustible substances
- Corrosion of electrical equipment
Well Blowouts & Oil Rig Explosions
One of the most devastating types of oil rig explosions are those caused by well blowouts. A blowout is the uncontrolled release of oil or gas from a well. Blowouts are difficult because of the amount of oil or gas they release. Besides being toxic, the substances escaping the earth at the site of a blowout are incredible prone to ignition. It only takes a small spark from a rock or piece of equipment thrown by the force of a blowout to create a catastrophic explosion. While modern wells have blowout preventers, inconsistent maintenance and safety practices cause the failure of these systems.
The Chesapeake Well Blowout in Burleson County, Texas
On January 29, 2020 a Burleson County well blowout took the life of one contractor and caused serious burn injuries to three more. The incident occurred near Country Road 127, southwest of Caldwell, Texas. Oklahoma-based Chesapeake Energy Corporation owned and operated the well, known as the Wendl and Daniel H 1 H well, at time of the explosion. Crews were still working on January 30 to cap the well and stop the blowout as investigators examined the scene to determine the cause of the accident.
Injuries Caused by Blowouts
Per one report, the oil and gas industry has the highest rate of severe injuries in the nation. Between 2015 and 2016, there were 349 injuries sustained by those working in or supporting the oil and gas industry. This rate is 128 percent higher than construction, the second most common industry.
Injuries caused by well blowouts include:
Oil Rig Explosion FAQ
With safety standards in place, why do oil rig explosions still occur?
Oil rig and platform workers face severe injury and death in the event of an explosion. But what causes these explosions, and who is to blame? Oil rig explosions can be caused by blowouts or even by single sparks that turn into fires in volatile areas. Negligence, aging equipment, equipment failure, and inadequate safety measures can be blamed for these incidents. No matter how many safety procedures and devices are in place, if they are negligently implemented, catastrophic explosions will still occur.
When an explosion happens, the injured workers and the families of any workers who lost their lives are left wondering why. Our firm is committed to finding the answers and accountability that these people deserve. We stand up against large oil and gas companies to ensure they’re held responsible for their workers’ injuries and lives.
Can cell phones really cause oil rig explosions?
Some refineries prohibit the use of mobile phones in high-hazard areas or anywhere on a rig. Cell phone usage is an unnecessary distraction for workers who cannot afford to have their minds elsewhere when dealing with heavy machinery, equipment, and volatile substances. Additionally, cell phones may present a spark risk in areas with volatile fumes. Spark potential is one of the greatest risks on any oil rig, and it is believed that phone batteries and electronic components could ignite fumes in highly volatile areas. Currently, there are no recorded incidents of cell phones causing oil rig explosions, but some refineries still prohibit their usage on rigs.
Just how dangerous is working on an oil rig?
According to the latest Fatalities in the Oil and Gas Extraction Industry (FOG) report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 69 oil and gas industry workers lost their lives in the U.S. in 2017. About two-thirds of these fatalities involved workers in well servicing, which is known as one of the most hazardous tasks on a rig. Working on an oil rig is dangerous, but this does not mean there is an excuse for explosions that catastrophically injure or kill innocent workers. When oil and gas companies cut corners to try to increase productivity and profits, they put their hard-working employees at risk. Our team at Arnold & Itkin is there to see them held accountable for such heartlessness.
We've Helped Workers After Historic Oil Rig Explosions. Now, We're Ready to Fight for You
When an oil rig explosion injures and kills workers, their families are left with the task of finding solutions for a problem they should have never had to face. No one should have to suffer because of a company’s failure to provide a safe work environment. At Arnold & Itkin, we understand that oilfield workers produce the energy that runs our country and that they deserve better than having their lives changed forever. It’s our mission to protect workers in this vital industry by holding the reckless companies accountable for negligence.
Our firm is ready to help recover the costs of medical bills, lost wages, and any other losses caused by oil rig explosions. We’ve taken on some of the largest oil and gas companies in the nation and have won billions of dollars in settlements and verdicts because of our dedication to results. Importantly, we make sure our clients can focus on what matters by only collecting a fee if we win their case.
You don’t have to face this alone. Call our Burleson County oil rig explosion lawyers today for help at (888) 493-1629. We’re here for you.
