Many companies do not utilize the necessary resources to train their employees and eliminate the chance of inhaling toxic fumes all in the name of profit.
OSHA trained specialists are available to assist employees and companies with information regarding compliance, and provide programs that will educate them regarding hazards of an industry and the standards OSHA sets.
Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” pumps large amounts of sand and water into a well at a high speed to increase pressure in the well so that shale and other formations are fractured, therefore releasing oil and gas into an oil well.
This practice has become more common in recent years due to new methods improving accessibility to natural gas and oil deposits underground. During the process, oil drilling workers could be easily exposed to crystalline silica.
Though inhalation of crystalline silica appears to be a high risk factor for developing a sometimes fatal and debilitating lung disease referred to as silicosis, there are other concerns regarding the exposure to exhaust gas fumes, diesel particles, and methane fumes because they all pose serious concerns regarding debilitating lung diseases.
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Studies:National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) discovered that a serious health threat to oil field workers was created when they were performing hydraulic fracturing work.
Exposing their employees to highly toxic chemicals or fumes and not provide the required training mandated by the Occupational Safety Health Administration (OSHA) is not uncommon.
Oil field workers are placed at a higher risk level for serious health problems than those in other industries because of an ever increasing need to produce more oil and gas and are exposed to highly toxic fumes and chemicals every day.
One of the naturally occurring minerals in the earth is Silica, and if crystalline silica particles are inhaled, they are minute enough to affect the capacity of the lungs’ gas exchange regions. Simply put, the lungs will be less capable of taking in oxygen. Often, companies fail to let their employees know that the chemicals being handled are toxic, and do not do so until after exposure has occurred. Attorney James Shaw with Carabins Shaw Law Firm has the resources you need to assist you with any negligence that may have caused your injury or illness.
Call him today at 800-862-1260 if you have been exposed to toxic fumes, and ensure that you receive the compensation that is rightfully yours.