Working in oil-drilling sites exposes workers to various types of oil rig accidents that can cause injuries and deaths. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 44 workers got fatally injured on around 431 oil rigs in Texas. Notably, the injuries resulted from various types of oil rig accidents.
What types of oil rig accidents are there?
An oil rig accident can have devastating impacts on the workers’ health and wellbeing. It can cause life-threatening injuries that keep highly-skilled workers away for many months or years. That’s why safety should be your top priority.
Learn about the different types of oil rig accidents that can cause fatal injuries and wrongful deaths during onshore and offshore drilling. Share on XHere are the different types of oil rig accidents that can be fatal.
- Explosion Injuries
- Transportation Accidents
- Exposure to Harmful Chemicals
- Limb Accidents
- Electrical Problems
1) Explosion Injuries
Oil rigs deal with flammable oil and gases like hydrogen sulfide that can cause fire and explosion when ignited. Explosions can cause burn injuries, loss of limbs, and death.
Oil rig operators need to install breakers and inspect fire safety tools to avert this.
2) Transportation Accidents
Lifting heavy equipment from one point to another without adequate support can cause neck and back injuries. Accidents can occur when you move things without a back belt or brace. It can cause sprains and herniated discs.
Mitigate these injuries by using the correct equipment when you need to lift heavy objects.
3) Exposure to Harmful Chemicals
Harmful substances like crude oil, chemical solvents, and drilling fluids may contain toxic chemicals. These chemicals can damage the skin, eyes, and lungs or cause a brain injury. Chemicals can cause rashes, chemical burns, allergic reactions, and respiratory issues when ingested.
Use safety measures when handling these chemicals like wearing protection.
4) Limb Accidents
Limb accidents like lacerations, amputations, or crushing injuries can be traumatizing. A worker can get crushed by hydraulic machinery or hit by falling objects to cause limb injuries. According to the EHS Today, limb injuries account for 50 percent of total incidents in the oil and gas industry.
5) Electrical Problems
Oil drilling sites require electrical devices like computers, telephones, and chemical labs powered by diesel generators. If the insulation around the wiring gets damaged, it can electrocute unsuspecting workers. Regular inspection of electrical wires is essential.
Exercise extreme caution when on an oil rig. Follow all the safety instructions laid out by the company in charge of the oil rig.
Safety First For a Reason
Proper safety measures are essential to avert potential oil rig accidents. Workers need to put on protective gear, such as hard helmets, safety glasses, and flame-resistant clothing. Also, oil rig equipment requires routine maintenance to prevent accidents.
Safety is a Priority to BOP Products
Operating oil rigs is one of the most dangerous jobs because of the various types of rig accidents common in oil field drilling sites. Since blowouts are a common cause of oil field accidents, install blowout preventers from BOP Products to prevent the kicks.
Contact us to learn the safety procedure to protect oilfield workers from accidents.
