Texas is booming with oil industry, especially around the gulf where off shore oil rigs employee hundreds of Texas citizens.
Working within the oil industry comes with its fair share of risks; however, that’s no excuse for an employer, especially offshore, to not provide the safest working environment possible for his or her employees.
We’ll take a look at some common injuries from oil rig accidents and how workers can receive compensation for any damages they may suffer.
Oil rig injuries are often serious
Oil industry workers do their job amidst many risks. Large machinery and harsh chemicals combine to create an inherently dangerous working environment. If you throw negligence into the mix, however, those risks can turn into serious accidents very quickly.
Common oil rig accidents and injuries can include:
- Explosions
- Inhaling harsh chemicals or other by-products
- Heavy falling objects
- Chemical or steam burns
These types of accidents can easily cause catastrophic injuries or even wrongful death. Luckily, Texas law does protect the rights of victims and their families in the case of a negligent accident.
Texas personal injury law for the oil industry
Offshore oil rigs do not adhere to typical workers’ compensation laws. Instead, there are other federal laws that are used to protect the rights of offshore workers on the job. Some of these laws include:
- The Jones Act
- The Division of Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation
- The Oil Pollution Act
- The Death at High Seas Act
Each of these laws works differently to provide a certain amount of financial protection for offshore oil workers should they find themselves in a negligent accident. Which laws apply depends on the worker’s specific situation: how far offshore the rig is placed, whether or not the rig was made in the U.S., or whether the worker is considered a seaman.
For more information about oil workers’ rights to compensation, check out our article “Texas Oil Industry Accidents & Law Guide”.