Dealing with Injury from a Violation of Oil Rig Safety Regulations on a Platform or Barge

Feb. 28, 2012 - PRLog -- There are 2 main types of oil rigs: platforms and barges. While most oil rig safety regulations are similar, no matter which type of rig you are employed on, it will make a difference if you are filing a claim for damages suffered in a maritime accident. This is due to the difference between which laws – the Jones Act or Maritime Law – apply to your claim.

Making the determination of which laws will be relevant to your claim for injuries sustained due to oil rig safety violations is a matter best left to the expertise of a Jones Act attorney.

Injuries Resulting from Oil Rig Safety Negligence

A study conducted on the occurrence of injury on an American oil rig platform followed the accident reports for 518 workers over a year-long period. The main injuries sustained by these workers were contusions, cuts and lacerations. They mainly affected the hands, fingers and legs and were caused by direct impact from a nearby object or jamming of a limb.

In the study, it was shown that most of the injuries were sustained by the oil drillers involved in direct contact with the most dangerous machinery and equipment aboard the oil rig. Deck hands and engineers were among the next group with highest injury risk, followed by the auxiliary personnel and specialized staff such as catering and crew services.

In many cases, injuries such as these may be reduced or prevented by following proper oil rig safety regulations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) along with the U.S. Coast Guard, and in some cases, state agencies all work together to regulate oil rig safety to prevent accidents. When your employer is negligent in following these regulations, these serious injuries become a risk that all employees may face no matter what type of oil rig they are stationed on.

Oil Rig Safety Regulations: Barges versus Platforms

The oil rig safety rules apply to any type of oil rig, whether it is a moving barge or a fixed platform. An employer of any crew aboard an oil rig owes their employees a duty of care in providing a safe working environment and access to medical care, should the need arise.

While the type of oil rig you were injured on may not matter when proving your claim of negligence against your employer, it will matter when you seek damages in your claim. Your claim may be considered under either Jones Act or Maritime law, and making the distinction may require the help of a Jones Act attorney.

If you work on a fixed oil rig platform off the coast of a U.S. state, you will file a claim governed either by maritime law or local state laws. Maritime law applies to workers who are injured due to oil rig safety violations while in navigable waters. However, if the platform is within the jurisdiction of a state, local laws will apply first.

If your accident took place on a barge or other moving platform classified as a vessel under the Jones Act then it will result in the Jones Act law governing your claim. Each law has its own requirements for coverage, including reviewing the nature of your employment and job function and where your worksite was located at the time of your accident.

Using Oil Rig Safety Regulations in Your Offshore Injury Claim

Once you have worked with your Jones Act attorney to determine whether your injury claim falls under local, maritime or Jones Act laws, you’ll need to provide evidence for your case. Proving negligence of oil rig safety rules and regulations involves understanding which organizations facilitate safety at your workplace and being able to show violations of these rules.

Without evidence of negligence and an understanding of the various laws – state, federal, maritime and Jones Act – you may find yourself at a disadvantage when filing an offshore injury claim. Remember that you have a right to legal counsel from a Jones Act attorney for help in resolving your maritime injury claim and seeking the benefits you are entitled to as an injured worker.

A Jones Act Attorney Can Explain Oil Rig Safety Regulations

The Jones Act provides you with certain protections your employer may not want you to know about. A Jones Act attorney from The Young Firm in New Orleans, Louisiana, can help you if you have suffered serious injury due to violations of oil rig safety regulations by your employer.

Though we are based in Louisiana, we are ready and able to help injured victims throughout the U.S. who were the victims of oil rig safety negligence. Order our free Maritime Injury Law guide and/or our guide to what to do when you are injured offshore to learn all about your rights as an injured worker.

If you are in need of help with understanding oil rig safety regulations in regards to a Jones Act claim we urge you to contact us today for a FREE case evaluation – call 1-504-680-4100 or toll free at 1-866-938-6113.
Visit us at: http://www.jonesactlaw.com/reports/6-secrets-your-company...

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Maritime accidents are an unfortunate part of working at a harbor or shipyard, or on a tug boat/barge or oil rig. When your job places you near the water where you are employed in a maritime trade you’re covered by the Jones Act Law