Oilfield accident and Phoenix: what to do when the job was somewhere else

Is there oilfield work in Phoenix?

Almost none, and we want to be plain about it. The Arizona Geological Survey places the state's oil and natural gas production in the northeastern part of Arizona.

The state's oil and gas administrator reported only nine drilling permits and seven wells drilled in all of Arizona in 2009. We could not find a current count of active wells near Phoenix, and we found no sign of a working oil field in Maricopa County.

So if you are searching this from Phoenix, it is likely for one of three reasons.

I live in Phoenix but got hurt on a rig in another state. Where do I file?

It depends on where you were hired, where your employer is based and where the injury happened. More than one state may have a claim.

Do not assume the state where you live is the right one, and do not assume it is the wrong one. Ask a lawyer licensed in the state of the injury, because the deadlines are different and Texas employers may have no workers' comp at all.

Vehicles are a large part of this work. OSHA says highway vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death in oil and gas extraction. A long drive to a remote site can be part of the job. Hydrogen sulfide is another danger. It can overcome workers almost immediately, and it is a leading cause of gas inhalation deaths at work.

Who regulates pipeline work near Phoenix?

Here the local risk is real. The Arizona Corporation Commission's 2024 report covers 45,037 miles of intrastate gas and hazardous liquid pipeline in the state. Operators reported 676 pipeline hits that year, led by third-party excavator error. The Commission's Office of Pipeline Safety investigates incidents to find the cause.

Well and drilling permits are a different agency: the Arizona Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, 1100 W. Washington St., 602-771-4501. For workplace safety, go to ADOSH at 800 W Washington St., (602) 542-5795. ADOSH puts imminent danger and fatalities first.

How does Arizona workers' comp work for a Phoenix pipeline or rig job?

1. Tell your supervisor in writing and get care.
2. File a written claim with the Industrial Commission within one year. Its office is at 800 W. Washington St., (602) 542-4661.
3. Use the Form 407, which comes in Spanish. There is no fee.
4. Do not email your Social Security number. Fax (602) 542-3373 or mail it.
5. Check if your employer has coverage with the Commission's verification tool.

Comp pays no matter who caused the accident. In return, it is generally your only remedy against your employer. A subcontractor's worker can count as the main employer's employee.

Can I sue someone besides my employer after an oil or pipeline injury?

Often yes, and it is often where the larger recovery is. You can bring a claim against someone not in the same employ, such as another contractor, the maker of a failed part, or an excavator. Comp benefits continue while you do. Watch the deadline. In Arizona, if you do not sue within one year, the claim can move to the insurer. The general limit is 2 years.

A death on the job changes the forms. Families use the Dependent Benefits Claim Form, Form 120. A death must be reported to OSHA within 8 hours and a hospitalization within 24.

What should I ask an oilfield injury lawyer if I live in Phoenix?

• Which state's law applies to me, and do you have a lawyer licensed there?
• Is there a third party I can claim against?
• Will the one-year Arizona trap affect me?
• Can you get the ADOSH file? It becomes public only after citations or closing.

Questions