Offshore work in the oil and gas industry is often dangerous enough without the added inclusion of violations of safety regulations. Oil rig workers often must place their full faith and protection in the hands of their coworkers and their employers, believing that everyone has been appropriately trained and all equipment has been properly inspected. However, accidents do happen while offshore, although many are preventable. Therefore, oil rig workers may often recover damages stemming from their injuries from their employer based on federal maritime law.

Oil rig explosions are often the result of a blowout, which can occur when a large amount of methane gas flows up to the surface. Oil and gas companies have attempted to prevent the onset of blowouts through various equipment and warning devices. However, the failure to properly train oil rig workers can lead to a violation of safety regulations, which in turn leads to dangerous conditions ripe for an oil rig explosion. Oil and gas companies are additionally responsible for ensuring all equipment onboard the offshore rig or platform is up to the appropriate safety standards and has been adequately tested. Failure to thoroughly inspect equipment is often a leading cause of oil rig explosions, and can lead to devastating injuries to many workers.

The recent Deepwater Horizon oil spill brought increased inspection and criticism to the oil and gas industry’s offshore operations, resulting in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety Environmental Enforcement. Both bureaus are responsible for the safety and environmental oversight of offshore oil and gas operations. This further resulted in the “Workplace Safety Rule” which now requires employers to have “clear programs in place” to identify and address hazardous conditions that could lead to oil rig explosions.

Additionally, the Drilling Safety Rule further requires oil and gas companies to have specific measures put in place to prevent a blowout, including installing blowout preventers which will shut off the flow of oil and gas. This rule was enacted after further investigation into the causes of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and is meant to ensure this type of spill and loss of life does not happen again. Violation of these rules can result in fees to these agencies, as well as severe injuries to oil rig workers.

If you or a loved one have been injured in an oil rig explosion caused by the negligence of another person, do not hesitate to contact the Malley Law Firm. Tony Malley has years of experience in assisting clients with their claims for injuries received in offshore accidents. The oil and gas industry should be held responsible for their violation of safety regulations, both on a federal level, and on a personal level to the employees who were injured. Contact our Texas offices today for your initial free consultation