Oil rigs can be dangerous places to work. There is heavy pressure equipment on site, workers have to climb up on top of them in order to do maintenance, and they are built with large pieces of metal that could cripple or kill a worker if dislodged. However, the high pay and steady source of employment make them a popular career choice for many younger men in Corpus Christi, especially in an economy that is still struggling in some areas to get back on its feet.

A man’s body is undergoing an autopsy after he died from a workplace accident that occurred on an oil rig recently in a likely attempt to determine what caused his death. He did not appear to have any physical injuries after slipping from a rig platform 26 feet off of the ground. At the time, he was attempting to retrieve a chain after working on the rig; it is unknown what kind of work was performed. It is also unknown whether he was wearing any protective clothing or what caused him to lose his balance as he never regained consciousness. It is uncertain whether the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was notified of the fatal accident. 

There are many areas near Corpus Christi that are dotted with large farms and ranches and it is important for drivers to be on the lookout for any farm vehicles using public roads. Several car accidents have involved motorists and operators of these rural vehicles, which can lead to months of slow recovery and even permanent disability for the victims. Motorists should be aware that these farm machines are slower and unable to move at the same speeds as passenger cars and trucks.

A 20-year-old Taft man was taken to a hospital after the tractor he was driving turned over when it was hit by another man in a flatbed truck. The information is rather sketchy but it is known that the truck rear-ended the tractor. It is unknown whether the driver of the flatbed was distracted at the time or simply failed to realize the difference in speed that the tractor was traveling at. 

There is always a certain level of risk involved when a person is working with heavy machinery, especially when a great deal of pressure is being used. This is often the case for those who work on oil fields and at refineries and when a workplace accident occurs, the results can be fatal. For those who survive an explosion, a fire breakout or a piece of falling machinery, the injuries suffered can prevent them from ever working again, placing a great amount of stress on them and their family.

An investigation is being conducted by state and federal agencies after a fire broke out near an oil well that is owned by a Texas company in Woodlands.  A 28-year-old worker and two others were allegedly conducting maintenance on the site when the fire occurred. The worker was killed and the others were injured; it is unknown how serious their injuries were.

When an accident happens at an oil refinery or some other industrial plant where chemicals are involved, there are generally a number of government agencies that come out to the site to conduct investigations. The investigations reveal whether the workplace accident was caused by the company failing to follow safety protocols, faulty equipment or some other factor. When these investigations are delayed, it can prevent family members of victims from being able to move forward in their lives and may even interfere with legal a ctions.

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is one of those government agencies that investigate oil refinery accidents and other industrial issues, and it has come under fire for its repeated lack of finishing up investigations. Accusations of poor management are being attributed to its failure; one case that is still open is over five years old.