Undefeated New Mexico Oilfield Accident Lawyers
While the Permian Basin has long been critical to the state’s economy, a recent study suggests that New Mexico oilfield accidents are increasing at an unprecedented rate.
New Mexico Oilfield Workers Express Fear for their Safety and Survival
The study, commissioned by the nonprofit Somos Un Pueblo Unido and conducted by researchers at the University of New Mexico (UNM), examined the quality of life experienced by oil and gas workers in the state’s Permian Basin—the majority of whom are Hispanic New Mexicans. Nearly 200 participants were surveyed, including oil and gas workers, their family members, and service providers offering regional workforce development training.
“Our study had two main goals: to identify paths to improve the working conditions of oil and gas workers and to help inform areas in workforce training that should be addressed as the state transitions to clean energy production,” said Gabriel Sanchez, director of UNM’s Center for Social Policy,
According to the report, many workers and their families described conditions in the Permian Basin oilfields with “a palpable fear for their safety, health, and survival.”
“My husband was working for a company, and he had an accident. He almost cut his whole finger off unloading equipment. The owner didn’t want to have problems, so they fired him,” the wife of one Permian Basin worker stated. “When he returned to work, he got really skinny, and he was drying up because of all the chemicals he was working with. Those tanks are like death. We experience disillusionment, impotence and anger because we are completely hopeless.
New Mexico Oilfield Accidents Are Preventable
Unfortunately, the fear experienced by New Mexico oilfield workers and their families appears to be well-placed, given the challenging working conditions typical of Permian Basin well sites.
In fact, New Mexico oilfield accidents occur with alarming frequency. When asked if they had experienced an accident, 46% of participants stated that they had, with the vast majority (85%) saying that they felt the accident was preventable.
When asked about the nature of these incidents, 77% of those who experienced an oilfield accident reported being “struck by an object or equipment” as the most frequent type. Other common oilfield injuries included overexertion in lifting and injury from repetitive motion. Three in 10 workers responding to the survey said they had witnessed an injury from a fall.
An alarming 8 in 10 workers stated they knew someone who had been involved in a New Mexico oilfield accident. Tragically, nearly 28% of those who reported knowing someone who had an oilfield accident also reported knowing someone who had died as a result of an oil rig injury. A staggering 90% of respondents “strongly agreed” that New Mexico should be doing more to ensure the health and safety of its energy workers.
“The toll of this work is exemplified by their overwhelming desire for their children to stay in the community, but to work in other industries,” the report notes. “Survey participants overwhelmingly stated (78.3%) that they do not want their children to work in this field.”
Long Hours and Inadequate Safety
A consistent finding across the study was that oil rig workers in New Mexico experience long working hours, with the average workday being nearly 12 hours long. When asked about the underlying reasons, most workers said long hours ensured they could increase their hourly pay through overtime. According to many respondents, working excessive hours was the only way to ensure their families could make ends meet.
Despite the perception of well-paying oil and gas jobs, 20% of the workers participating in the study reported making less than $25,000 annually. The overwhelming majority (69%) also reported being laid off or having hours cut. To make matters even worse, most lacked access to necessary benefits, with 78% of workers reporting that they were ineligible for unemployment benefits, typically due to their status as immigrants.
While most of the oil and gas workers surveyed had some type of medical, health, or other benefits, there was significant variation between respondents regarding the exact benefits they received. Overtime and paid vacation were the most common benefits cited by respondents, with 55% receiving these. Just over half received paid sick leave, and only 21% had access to any retirement benefits.
Despite the dangerous nature of their work and its potential to negatively impact their long-term health, fewer than half of the respondents received medical benefits.
Undefeated New Mexico Oilfield Accident Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 for a Free Consultation
With Billions won and the largest oilfield accident recoveries in Texas, New Mexico, and throughout the United States, our Undefeated New Mexico Oilfield Injury Lawyers have the experience and resources to take on the largest oil companies in the United States and ensure that injured workers and their families receive the maximum compensation possible for all of their injuries and losses.
If you or a loved one were injured or tragically killed in a New Mexico oilfield accident or explosion, call 1-888-603-3636, chat with us through our website, or send us a confidential email through our Contact Form.
All consultations are free, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.