Typical to the petroleum industry, they keep employees to a minimum.
Why?
The petroleum industry steers away from government interaction at every turn. They do not want to be involved with government because any Washington administrations such as the Obama Administration will cost them money. Money from fines and money to support employee safety.
The petroleum industry ALWAYS hires contractors to eliminate the authority of OSHA over oilfield operations. So, they pay poorly, some contractors are in poverty because of the pay rates of the industry and the contractors take on enormous danger in their earnings.
The contractors have a great deal of expenses. Their take home pay is far less than anyone could imagine. Now. They are dying in Dakota.
May 18, 2015
Dustin Bergsing was 21 years old (click here) when he was overcome by noxious fumes while working the overnight shift at a North Dakota oil well site. He was found dead just after midnight on Jan. 7, 2012.
For oil field workers, this is an all too familiar story. And for Todd Melby, the reporter and producer of "Black Gold Boom: How Oil Changed North Dakota, it was one he couldn't ignore.
More than 50 men have died in the North Dakota oil fields since 2008, Melby said, and each time the newspaper reports follow the same short format: name, age, cause of death. After a year of reading these notices while producing "Black Gold Boom," Melby decided to investigate further.
His new interactive documentary, "Oil To Die For," explores how North Dakota became the most dangerous place to work in the country. "The fatality rates are nearly seven times as high as fields in the rest of America," said Melby.
In the documentary's interactive format, users can watch interviews, access court documents and move through the story at their own speed. The project shows the human toll of the oil boom....
Why?
The petroleum industry steers away from government interaction at every turn. They do not want to be involved with government because any Washington administrations such as the Obama Administration will cost them money. Money from fines and money to support employee safety.
The petroleum industry ALWAYS hires contractors to eliminate the authority of OSHA over oilfield operations. So, they pay poorly, some contractors are in poverty because of the pay rates of the industry and the contractors take on enormous danger in their earnings.
The contractors have a great deal of expenses. Their take home pay is far less than anyone could imagine. Now. They are dying in Dakota.
May 18, 2015
Dustin Bergsing was 21 years old (click here) when he was overcome by noxious fumes while working the overnight shift at a North Dakota oil well site. He was found dead just after midnight on Jan. 7, 2012.
For oil field workers, this is an all too familiar story. And for Todd Melby, the reporter and producer of "Black Gold Boom: How Oil Changed North Dakota, it was one he couldn't ignore.
More than 50 men have died in the North Dakota oil fields since 2008, Melby said, and each time the newspaper reports follow the same short format: name, age, cause of death. After a year of reading these notices while producing "Black Gold Boom," Melby decided to investigate further.
His new interactive documentary, "Oil To Die For," explores how North Dakota became the most dangerous place to work in the country. "The fatality rates are nearly seven times as high as fields in the rest of America," said Melby.
In the documentary's interactive format, users can watch interviews, access court documents and move through the story at their own speed. The project shows the human toll of the oil boom....
