Causes of Oil and Gas Accidents

Companies that are responsible for processing and transporting large amounts of oil and gas accept the liability that such a responsibility creates for all those who work around and handle these products. Because of the risk associated with oil and gas, worksites must be carefully monitored and cared for. When tanks, gas lines, drilling rigs, and pipelines are not properly maintained, accidents are inevitable. Failure to respond to reports of leaks or to provide proper safety measures through equipment and training also cause the likelihood of an accident to be increased.

• Oil and gas companies carry full responsibility for creating and maintaining an accident-free work zone.

• Maintenance failures related to gas lines, pipelines, tanks, and drilling rigs cause the risk of an accident to increase.

• Safety measure failures or reported leak negligence are also major factors that lead to gas and oil accidents.

Types of Oil and Gas Accidents

Gas and oil accidents can occur within in large commercial companies, on the highways, or even in homes. Fires and explosions from propane or gas appliances that are defective can threaten the safety of a home while gas leaks, pipeline explosions, drilling rig blowouts, and major oil spills and chemical plant and refinery accidents can affect hundreds or even thousands of workers and citizens. Accidents that occur during shipment and transportation of oil and gas by highway or by water also have devastating results on many people—workers and bystanders—as well.

• Oil and gas accidents in the home appear in the form of fires and explosions from propane and/or appliances fueled by gas that are defective.

• Widespread devastation often occurs from gas leaks, pipeline explosions, oil spills, drilling rig blowouts, and accidents related to chemical plants and refineries.

• Oil and gas spills and accidents harm employees and bystanders when these accidents take place during the transportation of these substances.

Results of Gas Accidents

Environmental damage created by mining processes and other types of oil and gas accidents has continued to negatively affect the communities and lives of many, often in ways that are imperceptible at first. Personal injury, serious health conditions, and even death to employees, work crew members, or even people living in residential areas nearby the scene of the accident are possible. Although oil and gas companies often cover the risks they choose to take by depending on skilled and experienced legal defense, the rights of any individual who has been harmed in any way through an oil or gas accident are still vitally important and worth reporting for the benefit of the injured party and for others who might suffer from continued carelessness or neglect.

• Widespread environmental damage often occurs after oil and gas accidents.

• Employees and work crew members within oil and gas companies can suffer serious injuries and health conditions from accidents within their workplace.

• Serious accidents can cause death to workers and bystanders.