Admin Table of Contents
What can go wrong on an oil rig?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, working on an oil rig carries a higher-than-average risk of nonfatal injury.
- Fire. One of the major hazards to workers employed on oil rigs is fire.
- Falls and Falling Tools.
- Machinery.
- Fatigue.
How often do oil rigs catch fire?
There are about 100 offshore oil rig fires every year in the US, according to government statistics. Explosions, leaks, and gas releases and more all happen often enough. In fact, we’ve been igniting waterways with fossil fuels almost since the beginning of fossil fuels.
Can oil rigs fall over?
Falls from drilling rigs may not make the headlines as often as pipeline explosions or gas leaks, but slip and falls from an oil rig or off a platform can still lead to serious injury or even death. Either way, dangerous falls from oil rigs can often be prevented if employers take proper safety measures.
What happens if an oil rig explodes?
Equipment failure could cause a pipeline to explode, create a leak, or ignite a chemical fire. Suddenly, the faulty equipment that was once just a hassle to oil rig workers becomes the source of severe personal injury, serious property damage, and possible loss of life.
How do you stop an oil rig fire?
Extinguishing the fires
- Dousing with copious amounts of water.
- Using a gas turbine to blast a fine mist of water at the base of the fire.
- Using dynamite to “blow out” the fire by forcing the burning fuel and oxygen away from the fuel source.
- Dry Chemical (mainly Purple K) can be used on small well fires.
What are the causes of oil rig explosions?
There are a number of causes of oil rig explosions. In most cases, they can be avoided. Explosions and fires are the biggest concern of oil rig workers. All it takes is a little spark to come into contact with the gas or oil, and an earth-shattering explosion and never-ending fire are underway.
Can a loved one be compensated after an oil rig explosion?
If you have or a loved one has been injured in an oil rig explosion, there is a chance that you could be compensated for the loss or the trauma. First, however, the cause of the explosion must be determined.
Where was the oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico?
Perhaps the most famous of oil rig explosions today is the Deepwater Horizon oil spill that happened in the Gulf of Mexico back on April 20, 2010. Also known as the “Gulf of Mexico oil spill”, Deepwater Horizon was located approximately 41 miles off the coast of Louisiana. What Caused the Deepwater Horizon Oil Rig Explosion?
Why are offshore oil rigs so dangerous to work?
Offshore drilling is especially hazardous in comparison to other types of drilling. The locations are farther away from help when something goes wrong. Working offshore often means sending in helicopters to send injured workers to the hospital. The time this takes turns minor injuries into more serious ones.