Workers’ compensation insurance is required in the United States for all employees. If a worker is hurt on the job or while doing a job-related action, such as driving to or from work, the insurance will cover all of his medical expenses that relate to the injury sustained while working. That is the rule of law.
In addition, the insurance will provide disability payments when he is out of work owing to work-related injuries or illnesses. The sum varies from state to state. A schedule of benefits will apply if the injury results in death or permanent disability.
All of this means that if a worker is injured offshore, the oil company will pay through their insurance. All of their oil rig personnel will be covered by comprehensive medical insurance, and if an accident occurs, they will likely be airlifted to a nearby hospital at no cost to the injured worker.
What is Offshore Oiling?
According to Science Direct, offshore drilling is an extraction method that allows firms to reach oil resources beneath the ocean’s surface. Although advances in drilling technology have made platforms even further out to sea economically and physically viable, offshore drilling locations are normally located over the continental shelf. 3D seismic surveys, which scan the seabed to understand rock forms, can be used to find offshore resources. The survey vessels send, receive, and decode sound waves to create 3D images that portray the oil and natural gas pockets concealed beneath the sea’s porous rocks.
Due to the sensitive nature of this work and the machinery used to obtain the oil, injuries can be common, and often very serious when they occur. Offshore oil workers take many safety precautions and training to avoid injuries. However, not all injuries can be prevented, especially when the negligence of another party is involved.
Common Offshore Oil Injuries
Working on an oil rig is a dangerous job that involves heavy equipment and dangerous chemicals. Injuries and explosions in oil fields are not uncommon. While oil corporations claim that this labor is hazardous and that certain mishaps are unavoidable, the truth is that negligence is the leading cause of oil rig explosions.
Thousands of Americans are exposed to these dangers on a regular basis. According to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE), around 150 oil rig explosion injuries occur each year due to offshore rigging.
Working on an oil rig entails being on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and performing manual labor for two weeks straight, which increases the risk of injury. It is not unexpected to see fires, injuries, or even death from machine failures caused by faulty machinery or human mistake when weariness sets in while working in an atmosphere where highly combustible materials can inadvertently mix with other hazardous compounds.
Other dangers to be aware of include falling from high locations, being hit by debris, back injuries, muscular strains, drowning, and exposure to poisonous substances. Working in the oil sector necessitates familiarizing oneself with and adhering to a variety of strict regulations in order to avoid injuries and maintain a safe working environment.
Oil Worker Injures in the News
According to a recent news article, only six of the 19 crew members aboard the Seacor Power on April 13, 2021 returned home after going out to sea to work on an oil rig. Seacor Power victims’ families began seeking justice for their loved ones. Many of them sued for wrongful death. At least nine civil lawsuits have been filed in connection with the incident. A family filed a lawsuit against Seacor Marine, Talos Energy, and Semco, the lift boat manufacturer, alleging that the firm prioritized profits over the crewmen’s safety and lives. Furthermore, two of the six survivors filed a lawsuit after narrowly escaping the capsized boat and floating for hours in the Gulf before being rescued.
Due to the 2010 explosion in the Gulf of Mexico, which spilled 4 million barrels of oil, the riskiest era in offshore drilling has ushered in enhanced safety regulations that address environmental concerns. This balances government and regulatory agencies’ roles in offshore energy production with their responsibility to protect employees and natural resources. According to a national commission report released soon after the spill was contained, the disaster was caused by errors committed by BP, Halliburton, and Transocean, which put the entire industry’s safety culture into question.
The number of offshore worker deaths is undercounted by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, according to a Drilled News and Southerly investigation. The offshore business appears to be safer than it is because of inconsistent and missing statistics. There are also loopholes in reporting that allow some worker deaths to go unreported. According to statistics released by the agency in response to a Freedom of Information Act request, around 50% of offshore worker fatalities in the Gulf of Mexico over a 15-year timeframe did not meet BSEE’s reporting standards.
Liable Parties in Offshore Oiling Injuries
Oil drilling businesses are required by law to ensure reasonably safe working conditions for their personnel. If an accident occurs aboard an oil rig platform, the employer may be held liable if they are determined to be negligent. Because there are often several parties working on an oil platform, your accident could be caused by a number of people or companies.
All responsible parties must be held liable for injury compensation, according to the legal system. A skilled law firm can collaborate with law enforcement and insurance companies to discover who is at fault for your injuries sustained while on the worksite of an oil rig. Determining liability can be difficult but not impossible if you hire an experienced workers’ compensation attorney.
An attorney can examine various types of evidence, and they may need to obtain subpoenas through the court system to move forward with your case.
Contact Our Personal Injury Attorneys at Allan Berger & Associates
Allan Berger & Associates’ attorneys and staff are always available for a free and confidential consultation to explore your potential case. Please complete our online form, and we will contact you as soon as possible. Please call us at (504) 618-1597 if you need to talk with an attorney immediately.
