Offshore oil and gas facilities can be very lucrative for the companies that operate them. Working at these facilities can be lucrative for the individual employees, as the high-stress, dangerous work allows them to demand premium wages.
There are many risks that workers in offshore oil and gas facilities must face, from inclement weather to chemical exposure and explosions. However, something far more banal that is one of the biggest risk factors for offshore oil and gas workers. Transportation is one of the biggest concerns for worker safety at offshore facilities.
Transportation incidents are the top cause of offshore fatalities
Although many circumstances can cause worker fatalities, transportation incidents are the top cause at offshore oil and gas facilities. According to an analysis of fatal injuries in offshore oil and gas operations, 51% involved transportation issues. Many of these incidents involve airplanes, although some of them involve boats as well.
Non-fatal transportation incidents can also leave workers with severe injuries, leaving them unable to continue working.
The Jones Act helps offshore oil and gas professionals
Workers’ compensation won’t do anything for an employee hurt at an offshore facility or surviving family members of a worker who dies out on an oil rig. The Jones Act protects workers and their family members by allowing them to make a claim in civil court for the losses they have suffered.
Given that transportation incidents are responsible for so many poor outcomes in the oil and gas industry, you may be able to argue negligence on the part of an employer if a transportation incident affected you or someone you love. Learning more about the Jones Act and your rights after an offshore incident can help you better stand up for yourself.