Shreveport Oilfield Injury Lawyer
Our modern society would be nowhere without the energy derived from the oil and gas industry. Oilfield workers are essential to our local, Louisiana and national economies, as well as our way of life. It’s a shame, then, that companies don’t make worker safety a bigger priority on the job site. Instead, over one hundred oilfield workers are killed on the job every year, and thousands more are injured. When a serious oilfield accident occurs, oil companies may be quick on the spot to settle any claims and pay immediate medical bills. They aren’t looking out for workers’ interests, though; they are looking out for their own. Insurance settlements to unrepresented injury victims rarely equal the claim’s actual worth.
Roughnecks are a tough breed, and they put their lives and health on the line every day. Employers owe it to their workers to provide a reasonably safe work environment. When they don’t, they can and should be held responsible for the damages caused. The Shreveport-Bossier City oilfield injury lawyers at Rice & Kendig stand up for injured workers and the families of those killed on the job. If you or a loved one has been hurt in an oilfield accident in North Louisiana, call Rice & Kendig for help getting compensation to deal with your financial costs and other legal damages.
Oilfield Work Could Be Safer With Proper Training, Equipment and Supervision
The energy industry is an exciting and rewarding field to work in, but along with the excitement and reward come great risk of harm. Working on a rig in any capacity is dangerous, yes. But the danger is known, and procedures should always be in place to reduce the risk of harm to workers and others nearby. Unfortunately, there seems to always be pressure from the executives to keep costs down and demand increased efficiency, often at the expense of worker safety. Oil and gas operators put pressure on contracted service providers to cut costs and move faster. To satisfy operators and keep a steady schedule of work, contractors place pressure on employees to do more for less and take on the additional risk of harm. The problem gets even worse in an oil boom cycle, when new or inexperienced companies come on-line from out of nowhere, hiring inexperienced workers whom they fail to properly train or adequately supervise.
Sometimes oil companies push their workers to continue operations during inclement weather when they know they should shut down the rig. Sometimes they use defective equipment that is beyond its useful life. Sometimes pressured connections are not properly secured, resulting in a blowout. Sometimes workers are not adequately trained. When equipment is heavy and connections are under thousands or tens of thousands of pounds of pressure, a small failure can cause a catastrophic incident and severely injure persons nearby. Safety should always be the first consideration, but unfortunately, some companies place profits above people. When safety is not the top priority, equipment fails and people make mistakes, often resulting in the death or injury of innocent bystanders.
Contractors, employers and oil company executives owe it to their workers to use diligence and care in hiring, training and supervising personnel, maintaining equipment on the job site, and complying with all applicable OSHA safety requirements. Without all of these factors in place, preventable accidents and catastrophic injuries result. Oilfield accidents can involve any of the following:
- Fires and explosions
- Blowouts
- Exposure to toxic chemicals
- Burns
- Crush injuries
- Struck by swinging, falling, or flying objects or equipment
- Falls
- Oil tanker and other auto and truck accidents
- Collapsed rigging or decking
Common causes of oilfield accidents include:
- Lack of fire suppression equipment
- Negligent construction of rails, steps, frames and other safety equipment
- Failure to inspect and maintain equipment and machinery
- Negligent storage of hazardous material
- Lack of proper safety gear for workers
- Negligent coworkers
Rice & Kendig Injury Lawyers Are Here for You After a Shreveport-Bossier City Oilfield Accident
Oilfield accidents can cause catastrophic or fatal injuries. The facts of the accident are often complex, and oil companies and their insurers can fight hard against being held liable for the accident. Our experienced injury lawyers are dedicated to helping injury victims get the help and compensation they need after a severe injury. If you were injured in the oilfield in Shreveport-Bossier City or North Louisiana or have lost a family member due to the carelessness of others, call Rice & Kendig today to schedule a free consultation.
