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The Most Dangerous Tools Used on Oil Rigs in Texas

Oil rigs are one of the most dangerous places to work.  Oil workers suffer injuries at a higher rate than most workers, and many of these injuries are caused by dangerous tools and machines that they use in their jobs.  The Houston oil rig injury lawyers at The Queenan Law Firm discuss some of the most dangerous tools on oil rigs and how these injuries occur.  For a free consultation on your oil rig injury case or another workplace injury case, contact our law offices today.

What Are the Most Dangerous Tools on Oil Rigs?

Oil rigs use large pieces of machinery and many handheld tools to drill for and extract oil.  Whether working on an offshore oil rig or a land-based oil rig, you face the risk of serious workplace injuries each day on the job.  The majority of injuries occur when equipment malfunctions or when user error or lack of training causes an accident.  Some of the most dangerous tools used on an oil rig include the following, in no particular order:

Drills

Drilling for oil usually means that the drill’s bit is in the ground, far away from direct contact with workers.  However, these drills still have moving parts that workers come into contact with every day.  In addition, the parts of a drill and the assembly process are extremely dangerous.

Assembling a drill often requires a crane to lift pieces into place.  Workers then manually assemble and tighten the apparatus and may continue to monitor it closely.  Clearing mud and working alongside the drills is also an important job that puts you at risk of injury from direct contact with the drill’s moving parts.

Accidents involving drill assembly or use can involve serious crushing injuries, amputation, lacerations, and blunt force trauma.

Power Tools

Handheld power tools and larger tools are used for many jobs on oil rigs.  These jobs can include simple things like general maintenance on the rig as well as machine and equipment maintenance and engineering.  These tools have their own risks, especially for tools like grinders, saws, and drills, which can cause injury from the moving parts.

These tools also have a secondary injury risk that is unique to oil rigs.  Many of these tools are capable of producing sparks that could catch oil on fire, potentially causing serious fires and burn injuries.

Cranes

Cranes are a necessary part of most drilling operations.  Whether they are used to assemble and operate drills or to load and transport oil, both land-based and off-shore oil rigs need experienced crane operators.

Accidents with cranes are common when operators have improper training or experience and do not operate the crane in expected or safe manners.  The other workers around the crane are often at risk for injury, especially if they are helping to guide drill parts or materials into their target locations.  If a crane operator causes an accident, the employer might be responsible for negligently training or supervising the worker.

Other Dangerous Tools on an Oil Rig

Other tools used on a rig also carry the risk of injury.  Even simple tools like hammers or utility knives could cause injury – but most of these injuries are not particularly serious.

Many other tools used on an oil rig are actually safety devices intended to reduce the risk of injury, so discussing them as dangerous tools would not be appropriate.  Things like tongs and clamps give workers something to grab onto – preferably something with safe hand-holds – so that they can reduce the risk of injury.

If one of these devices fails to work properly, or if your employer failed to provide you with the proper tools or safety training, you may still face injuries.  These injuries could be compensated in a workplace injury lawsuit.

Suing for Oil Rig Injuries for Land-Based and Offshore Oil Workers

If you or a member of your family was injured using dangerous or defective tools on an oil rig, talk to a Dallas product liability lawyer today.  Many tools have risks associated with them that could lead to debilitating injuries, amputation injuries, or even wrongful death in the case of a workplace accident on an oil rig.  In addition, safety gear could fail and lead to injuries it should have prevented.

In any case where you are injured at work, you may be able to file a lawsuit against your employer or the rig owner.  This can help you get compensation for things like medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering after a serious injury.  Talk to a Midland oil rig accident attorney to discuss filing a case today.

Dallas Oil Rig and Dangerous Tool Injury Lawyers

If you or a loved one was injured on an oil rig, call The Queenan Law Firm today.  Our Arlington TX personal injury lawyer represents injury victims and their families and fight to get them the compensation they need after a serious oil worker injury.  For a free consultation on your case, contact our law offices today at (817) 476-1797.