Complacency in the workplace can be fatal

Workers in the oilfields in San Antonio and across Texas face an endless list of hazards each day. However, complacency can increase workplace risks significantly. Although many workers who have worked on the oilfields for many years without adverse incidents are known to become complacent, the real danger is when their employers also believe nothing can go wrong.

One sign of an employer’s complacency involves near-miss incidents. Employers are responsible for the health and safety of employees. As a part of that, workers must be encouraged to report every incident, even if it was a near-miss and no one was injured. If such incidents are not reported and addressed, lives could be lost the next time it happens. And if the employer is complacent, it will likely spill over to employees.

Workers who do not receive frequent safety training to remind them of potential hazards can go into autopilot mode and do frequently repeated tasks in a trance-like state. When operators of large machinery are not focused on the safety protocols, limbs or even lives can be lost. Complacent employers might allow workers to take shortcuts and even forgo personal protective equipment, both posing life-threatening hazards.

Oilfield workers in Texas whose employers do not prioritize employee safety might find comfort in knowing that the workers’ compensation insurance program will likely cover their medical expenses and lost wages if they suffer workplace injuries. However, a complacent boss might attempt to prevent benefits claims to avoid increased insurance premiums. That is where an attorney’s skills with experience in both workers’ compensation and personal injury can help injured workers get maximum compensation.