ND Passes New Legislation Regarding Oil Drilling

Oil is a dangerous business, but employers still have a duty to minimize risky conditions and protect workers. 

There is no question that North Dakota is in the middle of an oil boom. The last decade has seen unprecedented growth in North Dakota. The state leads in GDP growth and personal income and oil production growth has been astounding. Because until recently technology was not advanced enough to extract the oil that was trapped between shale rocks at a cost that would be economical, there was limited drilling. But the advances in technology have made it possible for this exponential growth to occur.

The growth has been great for the economy and for North Dakota residents. With the growth of the oil industry, there is an accompanying need for increased regulations, though. As oil companies grow and take on more and more workers, the need for safety improvements has become clearer. So the Senate has just approved three oil related bills that will help to provide the guidance that is needed alongside oil growth.

The first bill provides incentives for oil companies that encourage them not to flare natural gas. Another bill has increased the distance that there needs to be between homes and oil wells. A third bill notes what happens when mineral and surface owners disagree. All three of the bills passed through the Senate with overwhelming support.

Senator Jessica Unruh, (R) Beulah, said “These bills are a significant step forward for protecting interests of western North Dakota property owners and will help to continue to protect North Dakota land for future generations.”

It is important to recognize that while profitable, the oil industry is a dangerous profession for workers in oil-related jobs. There is an amount uncertainty that comes along with the dangerous nature of oil extraction, but employers still must do their utmost to protect their employees.

When oil accidents or explosions occur they are very often devastating. Injuries can be severe and it is not unusual for these accidents to be fatal.

Oil Rig Accident

In 2011 just outside of Stanley, North Dakota a worker, 28, was critically injured when the drilling rig he was working on exploded. He was immediately engulfed in flames. He was transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota and was treated for third degree burns on over 70 percent of his body.

Accidents like this one and like the one that occurred at an oil processing facility near the North Dakota border in the city of Wibaux in eastern Montana, wherein an explosion and fire left three men injured, underscore how unexpectedly accidents can occur and how serious the results can be.

An oil tanker truck operator was working to pump flammable material into the building from the truck. Three workers were installing insulation when a flash explosion occurred. A fire broke out and the three men were injured.

Oil Rig Explosion Lawyers

If you are injured in an oil rig explosion you should contact an oil rig explosion attorney. You are entitled to workers’ compensation benefits but you have other options as well.

If a family member has died in an oil accident, an oil rig explosion attorney can help you to file a wrongful death suit and obtain death benefits. Oil is a dangerous business, but employers still have a duty to minimize risky conditions and protect workers. Contact an oil rig explosion lawyer as soon as possible following an accident so that they can help you to recover the compensation or damages that you deserve.

photo credit: lindsey gee