Oil Field Accidents

Two drilling rig employees were recently injured in a fire that’s under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The accident occurred around 5:30pm on July 2 at a Continental Resources site between Keene and New Town. According to an article in the Bismarck Tribune, the employees suffered burns to their hands and…

Earlier this year we reported on the harrowing statistics surrounding the oil and gas extraction industry in North Dakota, and how workers seem to be required to take their lives in their hands to do their work. We questioned whether safety was a priority because of all the tragic reports of serious injuries and deaths.…

Most truck drivers are required by federal law to get enough sleep and rest. The oil field industry, however, is exempted from parts of the federal laws on driving and fatigue, administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The exemptions were created in the 1960s at the request of the oil and gas…

The oil and gas industry is hard on its workforce. Yes, it helps keep our economy running – but it poses a lot of dangers to its workers. Among the most serious is toxic chemical exposure: not only can corrosive materials lead to serious burns, but inhaling the fumes can lead to a lot of…

The North Dakota oil fields, especially the Bakken formation, have provided our people with jobs and security for well over a decade. Our workers are strong and dedicated, and we appreciate all the hard work they do for our state. But when safety takes a back seat to meeting high quotas, employees can get hurt.…

Under federal law, workers are entitled to a safe workplace free of known health and safety hazards, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Workers have rights, including the right to speak up about safety concerns without fear of retaliation, to be trained in a language you can understand, and to be provided…

Right now, the oil business is expanding after strong 2017 numbers. New demand and new technologies have spiked production all around the country, which also increases the demand for field workers. There is no doubt that the oil and gas industry has been good for North Dakota. But is it always good for workers? Oil…

Last year, Governor Burgum gave a speech where he challenged the energy industry to do four things: Take the Bakken to the next level Find ways to work hand-in-hand with the coal industry Create a zero-spill industry standard Produce two million barrels a day The “two million barrels” part of the challenge has been up…

An oil rig on Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana exploded in mid-October, which resulted in at least six burn injuries and one missing person. Oil rig workers were being rescued with debilitating burn injuries from the fire that started on the rig due to chemicals, officials said. Many were transported to hospitals, and one worker remains…

A recent article in Glamour magazine detailed the trials and tribulations of being a female that works in the oil and gas industry in North Dakota. While living in the boom town of Williston, the author learned the hard life lessons of working in the male-dominated industry and city. She also faced harassment and discrimination…