The Wyoming State Workers Safety Office released information today that Mitchell Lemley of Riverton, Wyoming, died almost two weeks after he fell 60 feet from an oil rig in Converse County. Lemley, of Riverton, fell Feb. 2 at an oil drilling rig 22 miles north of Douglas. He died Feb. 15.
Identifying fall hazards and deciding how best to protect workers is the first step in reducing or eliminating fatal workplace fall accidents. Occupational fatalities caused by falls remain a serious problem. The US Department of Labor (DOL) lists falls as one of the leading causes of traumatic occupational death, accounting for eight percent of all occupational fatalities from trauma. Fall protection must be provided at five feet in a maritime setting. However, regardless of fall distance, protective equipment must be provided when working over dangerous equipment and machinery. Fall protection can range from personal protective items such as safety belts, lifelines and lanyards to safety nets, scaffolds, guardrails, positioning device systems, and hoisting and rigging.
Lemley worked for Casper-based SST Energy, which was drilling the well for another company. SST Energy Corporation is a contract drilling company for development of oil and natural gas. Their website states that the firm focuses its efforts on the Rocky Mountain Region of the United States.
This fatal oil rig accident was the second death in Wyoming’s oil and gas industry this year. An exploding pipe killed a worker at a rig in the Pinedale area in January.
Worker safety awareness is necessary for injury prevention during all phases of oil and gas drilling operations. Procedures and processes will include safety meetings and employee job training. If proper training or proper equipment were not used by Lemley’s employer, a vessel owner or operator, or a responsible third party, negligence can potentially be found against them. For more information, a maritime lawyer should be consulted.
