Fossil Fuels Push Causes Oil Field Deaths
About 30 Texas oil field workers die per year. The Hill reports, “more than two per month, die of poison gas, explosions, blunt force trauma or vehicle crashes.” In 2023 in Texas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, among fatal occupational accidents, 246 of the 564 were transportation incidents.
Is The Hill correct?
Another set of data comes up with different conclusions, although it does not cover the same period. The National Library of Medicine reports, “During 2003–2013, the number of work-related fatalities in the oil and gas extraction industry increased 27.6%, with a total of 1,189 deaths; however, the annual occupational fatality rate significantly decreased 36.3% (p<0.05) during this 11-year period.” This order of magnitude difference shows that one set of numbers is wrong.
OSHA’s Numbers
OSHA describes working in the oil and gas industry as unusually dangerous. It also lists vehicle accidents as more likely than other types. It follows that with accidents in which people are stuck between vehicles, explosions, falls, and electricity.
1st Credit reports, “By 2010, 823 workplace deaths occurred in the oil and gas industry. This number is more than seven times higher than the average rate for U.S. workers in all industries.”
Imperfect Numbers
The analysis from The Hill is imperfect, but it seems directionally correct.
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