Oil Rig Injury Lawyers & Oil Rig Accident Claims

Oil Rig Worker Accident Claim, No Win No Fee Promise...

Dangers of Oil Rig Work

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 seawater 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 that 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.

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, means that the potential for a serious injury is even greater than in a standard heavy industry environment.

If you or a loved one are looking to claim injury compensation for an Oil Rig Accident on a construction or building site and you want free advice from a fully qualified solicitor then please contact us now.

Using one of our specialist Industrial Accident Solicitors ensures that you have a better chance of winning your claim and receiving all of the compensation and help that you are entitled to all on a No Win No Fee basis. 

Health and safety procedures

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:

• All health and safety policies and procedures are in place and are up to date.
• All staff receive appropriate and regular health and safety training.
• Plant, machinery and all necessary safety equipment must be properly maintained, be in full working order and replaced if not.
• Decisions about the operation of the rig must be taken carefully and responsibly.
• Changes to existing policies and procedures must be clearly communicated.

Common injuries caused by oil rig accidents

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:

• Broken bones
• Head injuries
• Back injuries
• Slips, trips and falls
•  Exposure to toxic and /or hazardous substances
• Burns