In recently released data, the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) reported there have been 44 fatalities due to explosive accidents involving oil and gas drilling sites at locations throughout the nation. Nine of those deaths occurred in Oklahoma. But according to the board, every one of the tragedies could have been stopped by improved safety rules and procedures, as reported by News OK.
The agency presented a number of updated suggestions aimed at heightening safe workplace practices at oil and natural gas sites. The board also asked state regulators in Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Texas to mandate new rules for designing safer, contemporary oil and gas tanks that efficiently reduce the instance of explosions. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission said it is reviewing the board’s suggestions. Additionally, an official with the Chemical Safety Board told News OK that a lot of oil and natural gas production sites are located way too close (150 to 300 feet) from public establishments as well as homes, and do not have adequate signage or blockades to stop public entrance.
Investigators from the federal board visited the state in 2010 after a fatal oil site accident close to Weleetka, OK, caused one fatality and one injury. The agency’s increased focus on these industrial workplace dangers were directly spurred from that incident, as well as two more in other states (TX and MS) that occurred during October 2009 and April 2010.
This comes shortly after new statistics by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) exhibited an annual surge of 11 percent in the state’s overall workplace deaths during 2010. If you’ve been injured in an Oklahoma oil or gas production accident, contact the Oklahoma City personal injury attorneys with Maples Law Firm at 1(888) 226-6159. Call for a free case review today.
