Mississippi Workplace Injury Attorneys Discuss Drillship Accidents

A seaman from Mississippi filed a lawsuit against his former employer and another company. The man claims that he was operating a high-pressure lance on a drillship when he fell, sustaining severe injuries. In his lawsuit, the plaintiff alleges that the defendants did not give him the gear and equipment that he needed to do his job safely, among other things. The lawsuit also touches on issues involving whether there were unsafe working conditions on the drillship and whether the ship’s crew was adequate.

Drillships are one type of offshore oil and gas drilling rig. These enormous and powerful machines drill holes for the extraction of oil and gas. Drillships and other offshore oil and gas drilling rigs present significant safety hazards to the people who work on them. Between 2001 and 2010, there were over eight hundred fires and explosions on offshore drilling rigs. One thousand three hundred and forty-nine injuries and sixty-nine deaths occurred in these workplaces during that same period.

Some of the hazards that are present in an offshore drilling work environment are slippery surfaces, unfavorable weather conditions, heavy machinery, fires, explosions, and falls. As is the case in any workplace environment that involves the use of machinery, equipment failure can cause injury or death and improperly maintained equipment presents an increased risk of harm to the workers who use it. Crew members who do not receive proper training and support are at risk for injury, and they also put other workers at risk because they are unable to work safely or to support their co-workers in doing so. There are many ladders and stairs on a drillship, and falls from ladders, staircases, and other tall pieces of equipment may cause severe and sometimes fatal injuries. Oil and natural gas are combustible, so fires and explosions are a very real risk in offshore drilling workplaces.

If you work on a drillship and you get hurt, seek medical attention right away. Prompt treatment ensures that you can know the full extent of your injuries and begin receiving essential medical care right away. As is the case with any injury, immediate treatment provides the best possible chance at a full recovery. Missing work because of an injury could deplete your financial resources quickly. In addition to helping you recover sooner so that you can return to work, seeking treatment right away helps provide the documentation that will support your claim for damages.

Giddens Law Firm, P.A.: Supporting Mississippi Workplace Injury Plaintiffs

If you experienced a workplace accident in an offshore drilling workplace, you are not alone. Offshore drilling is dangerous work, and employers must do their best to prevent harm from befalling the employees who work for them. The Mississippi Workplace Injury Attorneys at the Giddens Law Firm, P.A. may be able to help you pursue a worker’s compensation claim against the parties who are responsible for your injuries. A worker’s compensation claim could help you recover both physically and financially after your accident. To learn more about how we may be able to help you, please call our office today, at (601) 355-2022.