Oil rig workers are crucial in extracting oil and gas from beneath the earth’s surface. Their job is demanding, often conducted in harsh environments, and involves risks. As such, compensation for oil rig workers varies widely, reflecting the dangers they face and the specialized skills they possess.
If you’re an oilfield worker and have been hurt on the job, an Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP attorney can help you get full compensation for your suffering.
A Lucrative Field
In oilfields, salaries vary significantly depending on experience, job position, location, and specific tasks. Entry-level positions, like roustabouts or roughnecks, typically earn between $50,000 to $80,000 per year. These workers are responsible for the manual labor on the rig, including equipment maintenance and handling materials.
Moving up the ladder, positions such as drillers or derrick operators can earn salaries ranging from $80,000 to $120,000 annually. These roles require more experience and expertise in operating drilling machinery and overseeing rig operations.
At the top end of the spectrum are positions like petroleum engineers or drilling supervisors, commanding salaries of $150,000 to $200,000 or more. These professionals are responsible for planning and managing drilling operations, ensuring efficiency, safety, and compliance with regulations.
The Significant Risks of Oilfield Work
However, alongside the lucrative pay, oil rig workers face significant risks on the job. Over a recent five-year period, 470 workers died on the job – 219 of those tragedies occurred in Texas.
Working on an oil rig involves exposure to hazardous materials, heavy machinery, and unpredictable weather conditions. The most common injuries experienced by oil rig workers include slips, trips, and falls, often resulting from slippery surfaces on the rig or uneven terrain. Workers also risk being struck by equipment or caught in machinery accidents, which can cause severe injuries or fatalities.
The work also exposes workers to health hazards, such as exposure to toxic chemicals and gases, leading to respiratory problems, skin irritation, or long-term health issues. Other potential dangers include accidents involving explosions, fires, or blowouts, which often have catastrophic consequences.
Issues Getting the Money You Deserve After an Accident? Our Attorneys Can Help
In the event of an injury, oil rig workers are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits to cover medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs. However, navigating the workers’ compensation system can be complex, and injured workers may encounter obstacles in obtaining the compensation they deserve.
This is where legal assistance becomes invaluable. An experienced oil field injury attorney can guide injured oil rig workers through the claims process, protecting their rights and helping them secure fair compensation. A lawyer with Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP can negotiate with insurance companies or represent them in legal proceedings if disputes arise.
Our attorneys can help injured workers explore other avenues for compensation as well. For example, we can pursue a third-party liability claim if negligence or faulty equipment contributed to the accident.
Schedule a Free Consultation with Our Houston Oil Field Injury Lawyers
The attorneys with Armstrong Lee & Baker LLP attorneys have extensive experience representing injured oil rig workers and a long track record of success. If you have problems obtaining the compensation you deserve after an oilfield accident, schedule a free case evaluation with our team by contacting us online today.
Joshua Lee believes in aggressive, tough advocacy and a client-centered approach to every case. Joshua draws from a wide body of experiences and a robust understanding of the law. Joshua graduated from the New York University School of Law in New York City, which is considered among the best law schools in the world.