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OSHA Sponsors Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Accidents at Oil and Gas Exploration Sites

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in partnership with the National Service, Transmission, Exploration & Production Safety Network (STEPS), has announced its sponsorship of a workplace safety stand-down that will run through February 28. The goal of the voluntary safety stand-down, which encourages employers to take time out of their work day to educate employees and managers on workplace safety on-site, is to promote improved safety and health practices at oil and gas exploration sites in Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Arkansas and Oklahoma. If you have been injured in an oilfield accident or another accident on the job site in Oklahoma, contact our workers’ compensation attorneys at Oklahoma Legal Center to discuss your legal options.

Promoting Workplace Safety in Oklahoma

“This safety stand-down is an important effort to bring heightened safety and health awareness for workers in the oil and gas industry to identify and eliminate work-related hazards,” said OSHA’s regional administrator in Dallas, John Hermanson. “There is tremendous value in dedicating time during a workday to make a concerted effort to provide training.” The safety stand-down was officially kicked off on January 24, and will extend through the end of February, giving participating companies the opportunity to choose stand-down training events to take place at their work sites throughout the month. Some oil and gas exploration companies have already voluntarily committed to conduct site inspections, train workers and document and eliminate hazards on the job site during the stand-down.

Injuries and Deaths From Workplace Accidents

In 2012, there were 40 oil field deaths in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas alone, an increase of seven fatalities from 2011. OSHA, a federal organization committed to improving workplace safety nationwide by providing training, education and assistance, and developing and implementing work safety standards, hopes to change this disturbing trend with its safety stand-down plan. Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers in Oklahoma and throughout the United States are responsible for ensuring a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. When this critical obligation is not adequately met by the oil and gas industry, workers are the ones who typically end up paying the price.

Our Qualified Attorneys Can Help

The oil and gas industry is inherently dangerous, and oilfield workers in Oklahoma put their lives at risk on a daily basis just by showing up to work. Unfortunately, when proper safety standards aren’t met by employers, managers or supervisors at oil and gas sites, the consequences can be devastating for workers and their families. If you have suffered injuries on the job site in Oklahoma, or if you lost a loved one in a fatal workplace accident anywhere in the state, consult our reputable lawyers at Oklahoma Legal Center for legal guidance. With the help of our Oklahoma City-based law firm, injured workers statewide can protect their legal rights and ensure that they receive the workers’ compensation benefits they are entitled to for their injuries and medical bills.

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