Why North Dakota Oil Fields Are So Deadly
Dangerous conditions, no matter the cost
As part of a series for PBS NewsHour, reporter Jennifer Gollan recently investigated the death of a North Dakota resident who died at the Bakken oil field. Sadly, this death is only one of many that have occurred in the last decade. Since 2006, 73 other people have died in the Bakken oil fields.
Ms. Gollan investigated what makes the oil fields so dangerous that they continue to cause innocent people to lose their lives simply for doing their jobs. She interviewed the father of the man who was the most recent victim of the oil field. He was hired at age 21 to work at the North Dakota oil field. He had previous experience as an electrical lineman and was experienced with heights.
His father explained that the accident was caused by a well exploding, shooting oil 50 feet into the air. The energy producer later found that the cause of the accident was due to a “sudden and unexpected flow of gas into the wellbore.” This caused a fire and explosion. The rig had trapped the worker inside and was burning. The worker died on his first day on the job. Another person’s legs were amputated.
OSHA’s investigation revolved around whether there was missing safety equipment. The emergency egress line was not installed, so the worker had little way out. One of the problems that OSHA’s representatives mention with oil fields is that there are usually many different companies involved, which can shield energy producers from being found accountable for the accident.
These companies may then hire site supervisors who are independent contractors. While OSHA regulates employment accidents, it does not have jurisdiction over independent contractors. Therefore, when independent contractors oversee the wells, energy companies can avoid the penalties that OSHA can impose. Regulators cannot cite the company when there are no exposed employees.
Another issue is that oil field contracts may further insulate the parties that are actually responsible for such accidents. These contracts sometimes allow companies to shift responsibilities and legal liability to other parties. While North Dakota has attempted to pass a bill that would have provided greater protection to oil field workers in the state, it was not successful. Some safety consultants even say that North Dakota is targeted by oil companies because there are no restrictions.
The worker’s family believes that Bakken oil fields are so dangerous because greater production is demanded without true concern for the human cost. If additional safety measures might affect production, they may be ignored because of the detrimental effect on profits. If there is an accident, indemnification provisions with insurance companies often allow the oil companies to pass on a large portion of the bill to the insurance companies. By insisting on high demand and being able to avoid much of the legal and financial liability, oil companies may make safety as a secondary concern to production.
If you or a loved one was injured in an oil field accident, we help you recover compensation for your injuries. The North Dakota oil field accident attorneys at the Larson Law Firm P.C are leaders in oil field accident claims. Contact us online or call 701-484-4878 to schedule a free case evaluation. We represent accident victims throughout North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota.