Working on an oil rig can be a very lucrative career, and it is an industry that will always have a lot of demand. It is also a tough job, however, and workers face a lot of different risks.
The first step to avoiding injury or even death while working in such a location is to know what types of risks you’re going to face. According to OSHA, some of the most common ones include the following:
- Explosions and fires
- Ergonomic hazards
- Falls
- Caught-in or caught-between
- Struck-by
- Working in confined spaces
- Machine hazards
- Hazardous equipment
- High-pressure lines
- Electrical hazards
In an offshore setting, many of these hazards can be potentially fatal. A fire is dangerous in any sort of factory or industrial plant, for example, but it is especially dangerous on an oil rig that is nowhere near getting assistance from a fire department.
Remote locations make injuries more serious
If you are injured on an oil rig, the remote location also means that you probably can’t get adequate medical care quickly. There will be minor medical care options on the rig itself, but you’re nowhere near a major hospital if you need surgery or care for serious trauma. This can make any injury more dangerous than it would be onshore.
This also increases the odds that a catastrophic injury will turn fatal. Doctors often say that a few minutes can make all the difference in the world, so any little delay in getting treatment may mean that you don’t get it in time to save your life.
If you do get injured in some way, it could change the rest of your life, and it’s important to know about your legal options to seek compensation.