Texas oilfield workers know all too well that their industry is among the most hazardous in the country. But new data from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration confirms that even as workplaces across the U.S. appear to be getting safer, the Permian Basin oil patch remains just as deadly as ever.
Despite a nationwide decline in workplace fatalities in 2024, Texas once again reported the highest number of oil and gas industry deaths—at least a dozen, marking a staggering 57% increase over 2023. And for every life lost, dozens more workers suffered severe, often life-altering injuries.
Read on to learn more about the alarming rise in Texas oilfield accidents—and how our undefeated oilfield injury lawyers fight to win the justice and compensation that injured workers and their families deserve.
Texas Accounted for 75% of Oilfield Fatalities in 2024 — And Nearly 60% of All Oilfield Injuries
Over the past decade, oilfield workers have faced a fatality rate seven times higher than the national average for all U.S. occupations. Nowhere is this crisis more concentrated than in Texas, which consistently leads the nation in oilfield injuries and deaths. According to the CDC’s Fatalities in Oil and Gas Extraction Database, nearly 40% of all U.S. oilfield fatalities occur in the Permian Basin alone — and that percentage may be growing.
OSHA Fatality Inspection Data shows that at least 12 oilfield workers were killed on the job in Texas in 2024 — more than any other state and a sharp increase from the seven fatalities investigated in Texas in 2023.
For comparison, OSHA investigated just two oilfield deaths in Oklahoma, one in New Mexico, and one in Alaska in 2024, revealing how disproportionately deadly the industry remains in Texas.
In addition, OSHA’s Severe Injury Reports confirm that while oilfield accidents have declined slightly nationwide since 2023, the risk to oil and gas workers remains alarmingly high in Texas. In 2024, oilfield accidents across the U.S. resulted in:
- 113 severe injuries
- 90 hospitalizations
- 32 amputations
Texas accounted for at least 67 of those incidents — nearly 60% of the national total. Many of these cases involved contract workers engaged in high-risk drilling or support activities, such as trucking, who face elevated danger due to inadequate training, poor oversight, and hazardous site conditions.
And these numbers may only scratch the surface.
Because OSHA relies heavily on employer self-reporting, many serious injuries — especially those involving independent contractors or worksites that don’t fall under its jurisdiction — may go unreported entirely.
Common Texas Oilfield Accidents and What Causes Them
In just the past year, Texas oilfield workers have been fatally electrocuted, crushed, exposed to extreme heat, or severely burned while performing routine duties — a grim reminder that these are not rare or freak accidents. They are the tragic, foreseeable result of companies failing to implement even the most basic safety protocols.
According to the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA), the most common — and deadly — types of oilfield accidents include:
Vehicle Accidents
Transporting equipment, crews, and materials is a constant part of oilfield operations — often on poorly maintained rural roads. Truck crashes are the leading cause of oilfield fatalities, accounting for over 40% of all deaths in the industry, per the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries.
Due to their size and weight, oilfield trucks often cause devastating injuries in high-impact collisions, including crushed vertebrae, herniated discs, and permanent spinal damage. In one 2024 incident, a truck caught fire in a washout bay and quickly spread to the Mud Recovery Tank (MRT) area, fatally burning a worker.
Struck-By, Caught-In, and Crushing Accidents
The heavy equipment, moving parts, and high-pressure systems present on an oil-producing job site are all capable of causing fatal injuries. Workers are tragically crushed, pinned, or struck by machinery, resulting in amputations, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain damage, or permanent neurological impairment.
Fatal incidents from 2024 include:
- A worker killed after pipes fell from a forklift.
- A fatal crane collapse during rigging.
- A worker crushed when a lay-flat hose fell into a trench.
- A pressurized valve explosion during pump system maintenance — caused by a failure to follow proper lockout/tagout procedures.
Equipment Failure
Poorly maintained or defective equipment is a leading cause of serious oilfield injuries. When blowout preventers fail or pressure relief valves malfunction, the results can be catastrophic. Electrical shocks, uncontrolled releases, and high-pressure explosions can cause everything from temporary paralysis to death. In many cases, these failures are directly linked to inadequate maintenance, lack of training, or manufacturing defects.
Electrocutions
Despite clear OSHA electrical safety standards, fatal electrocutions remain common in the oilfield.
In 2024:
- Two workers were killed when forklifts they were operating contacted overhead power lines.
- One was electrocuted while using a welding machine.
- Another died while preparing to connect a welding rod to a stinger — a task that should never occur without proper grounding and lockout/tagout protocols.
Electrocution can cause cardiac arrest, internal organ damage, and severe burns. These deaths are almost always the result of poor supervision and ignored safety rules.
Explosions and Fires
With flammable gases and volatile hydrocarbons in constant use, oilfields are highly susceptible to fires and explosions. These incidents are frequently caused by unsafe drilling practices, failure to follow safety procedures, or improper handling of combustible materials. Workers caught in these blasts often suffer third-degree burns, permanent disfigurement, or long-term health complications like skin cancer from tissue damage.
Zehl & Associates is currently representing two contractors who were severely burned in oil well blowouts in Garden City and Knott, Texas.
Falls
Falls remain one of the top causes of serious injuries in the oil and gas industry, despite strict OSHA fall prevention guidelines that include specific safety measures such as the use of scaffolding and harnesses. Whether it’s from rigs, platforms, or derricks, the absence of proper fall protection — or training on how to use it — can lead to broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, and fatal head trauma.
Confined Spaces & Chemical Exposures
Oilfield workers are regularly exposed to toxic chemicals like hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide — often in confined, unventilated spaces. These exposures can cause everything from respiratory failure to organ damage and death. Chemical spills and airborne toxins also account for a high number of vision loss cases, with 1 in 5 oilfield eye injuries resulting in permanent blindness. Additionally, Exposure to petcoke — the hazardous, dust-like byproduct of tar sands oil refining — poses serious health risks to oilfield workers, including lung disease, respiratory damage, and increased cancer risk.
At Zehl & Associates, we know these accidents aren’t just “part of the job” — they’re the result of negligent companies putting profits over people. We understand how the oilfield operates — from pressure control systems and wellsite safety to the federal and industry regulations companies routinely ignore. And we never back down in our pursuit of holding every at-fault party fully accountable.
No matter how complex the case or how many contractors were involved, we know what evidence matters, how to prove fault, and how to win — even against the largest oil companies and most aggressive defense teams in the world.
The Lasting or Even Permanent Consequences of Oilfield Injuries — and Why We Fight for Maximum Compensation
Oilfield injuries don’t just send workers to the hospital — they often leave lasting or even permanent damage that affects every aspect of a person’s life. From chronic pain and limited mobility to neurological impairment, PTSD, or the loss of a career in the only industry they’ve ever known, the impact can be physically, emotionally, and financially devastating.
Severe burns, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and the mental toll of a traumatic explosion aren’t short-term setbacks — they’re life-changing injuries that require long-term care, financial support, and a legal team that understands the full scope of what you’re facing.
That’s why our team at Zehl & Associates doesn’t just pursue compensation — we fight for the maximum recovery possible, so our clients can move forward with their lives, support their families, and access the care and resources they need for the road ahead. We make sure our clients are treated by the best doctors and medical specialists — not just to help them heal, but to fully document the extent of their injuries. We calculate all of your damages, including your future medical needs, reduced earning capacity, and the permanent ways your life has been affected. And, most importantly, we make sure you never have to worry about paying for medical treatment — there are no upfront costs to you..
Our recent recoveries include:
- #1 Largest Oilfield Accident Settlement for an individual in U.S. history
- #1 Largest Oilfield Burn Settlement for an individual in U.S. history
- $100M Settlement on behalf of workers injured in a petrochemical explosion
- $90M Settlement on behalf of a contractor severely burned in a blowout
- $62M Settlement on behalf of an oilfield burn victim
- $55M Settlement on behalf of an injured oilfield worker
Whether it’s a drilling contractor, site operator, or third-party service provider, we hold every negligent party fully accountable and fight to recover the maximum compensation our clients deserve. Identifying and pursuing these third-party claims is a major part of what we do — contact us today at 1-888-603-3636 to discuss your legal options.
What to Do After an Oilfield Injury
After a serious oilfield accident, the decisions you make — especially the lawyer you hire — can change the course of your life. While the company may promise to “make things right,” their only real priority is protecting themselves by minimizing your payout, denying responsibility, and getting you back to work before you’re ready.
You only get one chance to recover the compensation you’ll need for your medical bills, lost wages, and future — but you must act quickly to protect your rights and determine your best legal options:
Stop working immediately. If you’re physically able, report your injury as soon as possible.
Demand immediate medical treatment from a doctor of your choice. You are not required to see a company-approved or workers’ comp doctor. In fact, these doctors are often more focused on saving the company money than providing you with the best medical care. Always seek treatment from a trusted, independent physician who prioritizes your recovery — not the company’s bottom line.
Do not give a recorded statement, sign anything, or accept money (outside of your regular paycheck) without first speaking to an experienced oilfield injury lawyer. Companies move quickly to limit your legal options. In many cases, they’ll try to limit you to workers’ compensation benefits, which only cover a small portion of lost wages and none of your future medical expenses, pain and suffering, or loss of earning capacity — especially in serious injury cases involving severe burns, amputations, or spinal trauma.
Contact us as soon as possible. Our Undefeated Oilfield Accident Lawyers will explain your rights, answer your questions, and give you the information you need to protect yourself and your family. Once we’re hired, we’ll connect you with the top doctors in the country for your specific injuries — at no upfront cost to you — and ensure your medical bills and reasonable living expenses are covered while your case is pending, so you can focus on what matters most.
With Billions won and decades of experience, we don’t just seek justice when oil and gas companies cut corners on training, equipment, and safety protocols — we set records.
Undefeated Oilfield Accident Lawyers: 1-888-603-3636 for a Free Consult
Having successfully represented thousands of injured workers in Texas and the across the nation, our undefeated Oilfield Injury Lawyers have repeatedly recovered the largest oilfield accident verdicts and settlements in history, including the #1 Largest Oilfield Accident Settlement. As our results demonstrate, we don’t just win for injured oil and gas workers — we set records.
If you or a loved one were injured in an oilfield accident, contact us for a Free Consultation at 1-8888-603-3636 or send us a confidential email through our Contact Us form.
We’ll answer your questions, explain your rights and options, and provide you with the information you need to decide what’s best for you and your family.
All consultations are free and completely confidential, and you won’t pay us a dime unless we win your case.
We proudly serve Harris County, Midland County, and throughout the state of Texas. We are located in Houston and Midland and throughout the state of Texas:
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Houston
2700 Post Oak Blvd #1000, Houston, TX 77056
(888) 603-3636
Open 24 hours
Zehl & Associates Injury & Accident Lawyers – Midland
306 W Wall St Suite 701, Midland, TX 79701
(432) 220-0000
Open 24 hours