U.S. oil fields are increasingly killing fields

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A report issued in April by the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee described Patterson-UTI as one of the nation's worst violators of workplace safety laws. The report, titled "Discounting Death: OSHA's Failure to Punish Safety Violations That Kill Workers," concluded the agency's enforcement actions amounted to a "slap on the wrist" for the company's "unspeakable toll" on Texas workers.

Devoting an entire section to Patterson-UTI and 13 employees, including Garrett, who died in Texas rig accidents between November 2003 and April 2007, the report said the agency fined the company $432,000 for violations related to the deaths. But it later forgave all but $115,000 of the fines.

"OSHA's attempts to stop Patterson from gambling with workers' lives are a study in weakness," the report said.

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OSHA officials declined to respond specifically to criticisms in the Senate report.

The fatality rate for oil and gas workers in the U.S. between 2002 and 2007 was more than 29 deaths per 100,000 workers, or about seven times the average for all occupations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

During that period, the rate climbed from about 25 deaths per 100,000 workers in 2002, peaking at more than 32 in 2006 before falling back to about 28 in 2007.

No one knows how many deaths and injuries have resulted from drug use by rig crews. But there is little doubt it is a factor, according to the Energy Training Council's Altom. In some places, methamphetamine use is so prevalent it is difficult to keep crews together, especially at companies that require periodic drug tests.

In Wyoming, two rig workers who died within a year of one another each had methamphetamine and marijuana in their systems, according to state officials. One lost his balance and fell 90 feet; the other was sliced by a steel cable. Both had worked in the industry for more than 20 years.

Sublette Sheriff Wayne Bardin said drug-related arrests in his Wyoming county quadrupled in recent years. The bulk of those arrested, he said, work for oil and gas companies.