Two Accidents in Two Weeks in an Oilfield in Karnes County
Every resident and visitor of Texas knows that we Texans are blessed to live in a richly beautiful state. In addition to the diverse culture found in Dallas, Austin, Houston, El Paso, and cities throughout the state, Texas has vast natural resources that provide jobs and wealth to its citizens. In particular, the oilfields are a great boost to our economy. However, it is important that those in charge of the oilfields take great care to protect the communities surrounding them, as well as to protect their loyal employees.
Karnes County Oilfield Accidents
Karnes County, Texas, a small county located between San Antonio and Corpus Christi, houses a wealth of natural oil. Unfortunately, within a two-week time period, there were two oil field accidents. On September 24, 2013 in FallsCity, there was an explosion. That explosion sent six workers to the hospital. Of the six injured workers, four had to be airlifted to nearby San Antonio. Three of the workers suffered second and third degree burns.
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On October 8, 2013, there was a second oilfield explosion that sent two more workers to the hospital, including one that had to be airlifted to San Antonio. The workers were doing a routine inspection when some static electricity set off the explosion. It is important to examine why a routine practice would cause such a catastrophic accident.
Oilfield Dangers
As of early October of this year, the Texas Railroad Commission has found over 55,000 at oil and gas facilities during routine inspections. Of these 55,000 violations, over 400 are considered “major” violations. The Texas Railroad Commission has assessed fines of nearly $1.2 million to oil and gas companies this year. However, given the continuing instances of oilfield explosions, fires, and accidents, it is clear that these penalties are not doing enough to ensure the safety of the workers.
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Working in an oilfield offers the opportunity for many families to live a comfortable life. However, does a high salary compensate for the massive risk undertaken by workers in unsafe oilfields? Many oilfield accidents are not only tragic but also completely avoidable if only those in charge made sure to comply with the state regulations in place. Injuries sustained in oilfield accidents can linger for years after the fact. Like we have mentioned in previous posts, employers have a duty to ensure the safety of their workers. We cannot allow employers to unjustly profit off of the injuries and tragedies of their employees. By demanding that the employers compensate injured employees, we are demanding that employers take responsibility for situations they created by failing to maintain basic safety standards.
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If you or a loved one has been injured in an oilfield accident in Lubbock, El Paso, Houston, Dallas, or anywhere in Texas, please contact one of our skilled, compassionate and experienced oilfield accident attorneys for a free consultation. We have over 25 years of experience in this area of law and want to use our experience to serve you.
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