Fumes and Fires around Oil Pump Jacks

Oil pump jacks are used throughout the oil-bearing regions of the United States to bring oil out of the ground and to the surface. These pump jacks are high-powered machines that can prove seriously dangerous for a wandering child. If a child or young person finds an oil pump jack left unguarded by a fence or insufficient warning methods, they may try to play with the large machine. With the fumes and chemicals used with these machines, this can be very dangerous for those children.

An oil pump jack is used to bring oil out of the ground and prepare it to be properly processed for use. This means that a pump jack is commonly covered in small amounts of oil that may have spilled out during operation or distribution. A child playing around these machines may light a match or lighter. This can start a major fire, causing severe burn injuries for all those caught in the blaze.

In addition to fire hazards, a child may access a hatch that reveals a deeper access point. This can release a large amount of oil and chemical fumes. A child may not be able to handle these gases, causing them to lose consciousness while around the pump jack. This can lead to some very serious injuries while they are left unconscious.

To learn more about your legal options if your child has been injured while playing around an unprotected oil pump jack, contact Jacksonville oil pump jack injury attorney Donald Guthrie, P.A., today by calling 904-296-1088.