California is one of the top 10 oil-producing states in America, with Kern and Ventura counties home to much of that production. In these counties, oilfields provide employment for thousands of individuals, making it an important industry for the livelihoods of many families.
While work on the oilfield is inherently dangerous, the right safety precautions and processes can avert many disasters and oilfield injuries. It helps too, to be up to speed on recent facts about the ever-changing industry, and what those points and statistics mean for oilfield workers.
Some recent figures include:
● The California Geologic Energy Management Division (CalGEM) has jurisdiction over more than 242,000 wells, including nearly 101,300 that are defined as active or idle. The Division’s authority extends from onshore to three miles offshore.
● Annually, 34.9 percent of oil supply sources to California refineries came from California oil sources. Overseas sources as well as those in Alaska made up the rest of the percentages, according to the California Energy Commission.
● While California remains one of the top 10 oil-producing states in the U.S., production has been on the decline since the middle of the 1980s. CalGEM is currently working to further the state’s goal of becoming carbon-neutral by 2045.
● From 2008 through 2017, 1,566 workers died trying to extract oil and gas in the U.S. During the same time, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited companies in the extraction industry for 10,873 violations.
● According to the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 489 oil and gas extraction workers were killed on the job between 2013 and 2017. Top hazards that can become fatalities are vehicle accidents, being struck by, caught in, or caught between equipment, explosions and fires, falls, being trapped in confined spaces, and exposure to harmful chemicals.
● Roughly 35,000 wells currently sit idle in California, with production suspended. An analysis by the Los Angeles Times and the Center for Public Integrity found that regions, including Kern County and Los Angeles, do not have enough money set aside to ensure these sites are cleaned up and made safe for all, now and in the future.
Daniel Rodriguez himself worked in the oilfields for years as a roustabout and mechanic, and knows firsthand how difficult and dangerous the work can be. If you have been injured in an oilfield accident, these statistics can help you determine if your situation warrants contacting an oilfield injury attorney and pursuing a claim. Please reach out to us today to discuss your case and receive support by filling out our online form or calling (661) 777-7575.