Workers out in the field in the oil and gas industry understand the potential dangers of their jobs. The volatile liquids and gases they work with could ignite at any time. Two men recently suffered a fatal workplace injury at a gas well in Louisiana.
The two men were focused on a pressure test of the well. For some reason, the high pressure involved in the test caused a component of the well to break free. The two workers suffered fatal injuries to which they succumbed at the job site. A third person suffered injuries for which he was treated at a local hospital. The hospital released him the same day.
No further details concerning the cause of the accident were reported. An investigation is underway by investigators from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, along with state and local officials. The victims were both from Texas, but the gas well they were working on is located in Lincoln Parish.
Apparently, Wildhorse Operations has no known history with OSHA in Louisiana. Of the nearly 50 wells that Wildhorse has received permission to drill, about half are near the production stage. It could be some time before any information is available regarding the details of the accident.
When a workplace injury occurs, determining its cause may prevent similar incidents in the future. In the meantime, the families of the two deceased men may be able to receive workers’ compensation benefits to cover the expense of burying their loved ones. It may also be possible for covered dependents to receive a compensation package for the loss of income. Moreover, the injured worker may also be entitled to benefits — at least to cover any medical attention necessary and time off from work as he struggles to recover.
Worker's Compensation
Workplace Injury a Concern at Louisiana Chemical Plants
In a time when the economy is still recovering from a recession, many people are grateful to find work — even if its dangerous. As more chemical plants open up in Louisiana, the risk of workplace injury may also increase. In the wake of several chemical plant explosions, the focus on workplace safety in chemical plants has increased.
These plants are in a period of rapid expansion, and there is concern that worker safety may be compromised. This is part of the reason that a new oversight group has been created and agencies are encouraged to share information in an effort to improve the handling and storage of dangerous chemicals. Even though the American Chemical Council reports that there has been a 58 percent drop in chemical plant accidents, there is still room for improvement.
Recently, a plant located in the town of Geismar that is nestled between Baton Rouge and New Orleans had an explosion that killed two workers and injured over 100 more. The next day, a fertilizer plant on the other side of the river in Donaldsonville had an explosion that led to the death of one worker and the injury of eight workers. These are just two of many plants that make up what has been called a “chemical corridor” where nearly one-fourth of the petrochemicals in the United States are processed.
Anyone in Louisiana that works at a chemical plant may understand that there are certain dangers that accompany the job. However, that does not mean that employers should not be held responsible for doing everything possible to prevent a workplace injury. Unfortunately, even when an employer is diligent and focuses on worker safety, the possibility of injury or death still exists. In those cases, workers or their families may receive workers’ compensation benefits designed to assist with the financial difficulties associated with recovery or the loss of a loved one.
Louisiana Workers' Compensation: Man Falls From Tree to his Death
Many professions come with inherent dangers that even with the best preparations can still result in serious injury or death. It is for this reason that every Louisiana employer is required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. However, in some cases, injured workers and their families may also be able to seek additional monetary compensation when an employer is grossly negligent in safeguarding its workers.
It could be some time before it is known whether this was the case in the death of a tree trimmer on Oct. 25. He was at least 50 feet above ground working to trim an oak tree that is partially dead. One of the limbs on the large tree broke and the man ended up tangled in the ropes of his safety harness system when he slipped.
According to the Benton police chief, the man was most likely dead as soon as he struck the ground and nothing anyone could have done would have saved his life. The company the man worked for had contracts with utility companies and government entities to clear tree limbs from power lines to reduce the risk of outages in inclement weather. The work is not unusual at this time of year.
An investigation will be conducted by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to determine whether there were any breakdowns in safety procedures. In the meantime, the man’s family will have to deal with the emotional and financial impact of his death. Under Louisiana law, they may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits to cover certain expenses such as funeral and burial costs. It may be advantageous for this man’s family to seek advice and assistance in this process to ensure they receive all of the benefits to which they are entitled.