Undefeated Texas Oilfield Accident Lawyer
An accident at an oilfield services site near Batson, Texas, tragically claimed the life of a worker yesterday afternoon.
Oilfield Worker Was Struck By Equipment
Investigators with the Hardin County Sheriff’s Office were called to the site, located at 25375 FM Hwy 770, south of Batson, at approximately 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 6th.
According to media reports, the deceased was among a crew working on oilfield equipment when a piece of the equipment fell and struck him from above. Although first responders attempted to save the worker’s life, he died of his injuries.
While the Hardin County Sheriff’s office has identified the victim of the Batson oilfield accident as a 23-year-old man, they are waiting to release his name pending family notification. Officials have also not disclosed the name of the victim’s employer or the owner of the oilfield services site where he was working.
Yesterday’s tragic accident remains under investigation, and authorities are continuing to interview witnesses to gain additional insight into what might have transpired.
Struck By Hazards Are A Leading Cause of Oilfield Deaths
Thursday’s fatal Batson oilfield accident is yet another reminder of the inherent dangers facing workers in the oil and gas industry.
According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA), three of every five fatalities in the sector result from being struck by, caught in, or caught between hazards such as moving vehicles or equipment, falling equipment, and high-pressure lines.
Oilfield companies have a legal duty to protect their workers from these hazards, and OSHA regulations mandate that they:
- Employ engineering controls, including alarms on moving vehicles, whip checks on high-pressure hose lines, and physical barriers around storage areas.
- Ensure visibility of new or changing hazards by posting signs and temporary barriers.
- Require that workers use specialized equipment when operating tools at heights.
- Utilize toeboards, screens, or guardrail systems to prevent objects and materials from falling to lower levels.
- Provide workers with training on where to stand when tripping pipe in or out.
- Barricade the swing radius of cranes and excavators and areas below elevated work zones.
- Require employees to use tag lines when maneuvering suspended loads and to alert nearby workers to those loads.
- Provide workers with hard hats and other necessary protective equipment.
- Ensure all hoisting, lifting, and rigging equipment is well maintained.
- Perform daily inspections and replace any damaged or frayed lines.
- Utilize wheel chocks on all parked equipment.
- Use machine guards when equipment is running. Guards should remain in place until the equipment is locked, and safety managers should develop written procedures and train employees to follow them.
Undefeated Texas Oilfield Accident Lawyers: Call 1-888-603-3636 for a Free Consult.
Our Undefeated Texas Oilfield Accident Lawyers are monitoring developments related to yesterday’s fatal Batson oilfield accident and will post an update if new information becomes available.
In addition to being undefeated, we’ve recovered billions for thousands of oilfield workers throughout Texas and across the United States and consistently win record-setting verdicts and settlements against the largest oilfield operators and servicing companies in the country.
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