Working on an oil rig is a highly skilled, physically and mentally demanding and dangerous occupation and, as a result, accidents do happen.
At PSR Solicitors, we are Accidents at Work Claims Specialists with a reputation for pursuing claims with professionalism and dedication, and for recovering more compensation for our clients than our competitors due to our knowledge and experience of the insurance industry.
We offer all our personal injury claims services on a No Win No Fee basis and will provide you with a responsive, fully bespoke legal package, delivered by your own dedicated, approachable and fully qualified solicitor. This is vital when dealing with oil rig accident claims which, as outlined below, involve a range of elements relating to the unique nature of the work involved.
The unique nature of the working environment on an oil rig means that, in addition to all the significant risks associated with operating heavy machinery and undertaking taxing physical labour which are inherent in many industrial jobs [link to other personal injury claim pages?], oil rig workers are exposed to a range of potential dangers which can result in serious injury or, in extreme cases, death. Oil rig accident claims can result due to injuries caused by, among other things:
· Getting to the rig – as the only access to the rig is by air or sea, traveling to work is more difficult and dangerous than it is for most other jobs. Your employer is responsible for ensuring that there are adequate safety provisions in place for your journey to and from work.
· The remote location – associated with this is the fact that, if you do suffer an injury on an oil rig, the closest hospital is usually hundreds of miles away, and a serious injury will almost always involve being airlifted; both factors can result in the exacerbation of existing injuries or expose you to the risk of additional harm.
· Adverse weather – working out in the open sea involves dealing with some of the most hostile weather conditions imaginable. On an oil rig, you may find yourself regularly operating heavy, dangerous, powerful machinery in high winds, torrential rain and/or snow, often in high and exposed places which are can be icy and slippery. The usual industrial work hazards such as slipping, tripping and manual handling risks are magnified hugely in this environment.
· Structural issues or failures – in addition to the risks inherent in working on an extremely large, high and complex structure anywhere, oil rigs are also constantly exposed to sea water which can corrode the framework of the rig, causing platforms, or entire rigs, to sink or collapse.
· The nature of the work – drilling for oil is a complicated and dangerous process using powerful heavy machinery to extract a highly flammable and unstable material from a highly pressurised environment. In addition to this, the hours are long and, as discussed above, the working conditions are uniquely treacherous. Given these factors, accidents are always possible.
· The nature of the materials – the size and power of the plant and machine equipment involved in working on an oil rig, and the nature of oil itself, both mean that any accidents that do occur always have the potential to be serious. Explosions and fires are possible, which can result in very serious injuries, and even fatalities.
· Mistakes by others – oil rigs are complex environments and almost all operations are carried out as part of a team. If one of your colleagues makes a mistake which causes you harm, there is no personal liability on that person, but your (or their) employer may be responsible for any injury caused to you as a consequence.
As a consequence of these increased dangers, it is even more important that employers ensure that the working environment for their employees is safe. Your employer has a responsibility to ensure the following and, if your employer has failed to do so, and you have suffered an injury, you may be able to make a claim:
The dangers of working on an oil rig described above mean that the types of accidents which can occur are unique and potentially extremely serious. Although they are rare, major disasters have occurred on oil rigs, including the tragic Piper Alpha and Deepwater Horizon explosions. As well as this, the nature of the materials being used, and the scale of the plant and machinery, mean that the potential for a serious injury is even greater than in a standard heavy industry environment.
The increased potential for a very serious accident means that chances of suffering a serious or fatal injury [Link to relevant pages?] is also increased. All the typical potential accidents at work associated with heavy industry set out below exist when working on an oil rig, and most of them are exacerbated by the unique nature of the working environment:
Working on an oil rig is highly specialised, dangerous and difficult and involves long periods away from home. It is, therefore, well paid. The financial consequences of suffering an injury at work can be life changing. Calculating the financial loss involved in an accident at work for an oil rig employee is a complicated process, but our expert professionals can help to make the process as easy as possible. We pride ourselves on our personal touch: whether that is assessing your loss of earnings, or the impact of long-term medical provision to get you back to work, you can rely on our dedicated team of experienced solicitors to give you the best advice and service available.
The team at PSR solicitors is best placed to help you with your Industrial Accident Compensation Claim.
With offices in Wrexham, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Shotton (Deeside) and Ellesmere Port, PSR are a leading practice of Personal Injury Solicitors in Wales and Injury Solicitors in Cheshire. We regularly act for clients on eye injury claims across North Wales, Cheshire, Liverpool and Merseyside. As a recognised injury claims specialist we can support your needs wherever you live in Wales, England & Northern Ireland.
We will contact you within one hour of your initial enquiry, or during the next working day if you contact us out of office hours.
For confidential, professional legal advice contact us today by completing the enquiry form, or call on our freephone number at the top of this page.
Find out more about PSR Solicitors - download our free brochure now.
