After being struck by a stack of winches weighing more two and a half tons, a Texas oil rig "roughneck," as they are commonly referred to as, filed a workers' compensation lawsuit against the Energy Drilling Company, claiming he was injured when a noncertified crane hit the man.

The incident took place in October 2010 as the man was working on an oil rig owned by Energy Drilling. The man states in the lawsuit that he was on the floor of the rig when a coworker was attempting to lift a set of winches in an improper fashion. The coworker eventually lost control of crane and the winches swung free, hitting the man.

Energy Drilling Co. is being accused of negligence for failing to act with prudence, failing to provide a work environment conducive to safe practices, failing to properly train its workers, and failing to implement and ensure safety policies. Energy Drilling is also being sued for gross negligence, the injured party claiming that it failed to use a certified crane and that the crane had an improperly secured flange.

The injured man will be seeking recovery for pain, suffering, mental anguish, permanent physical damage, medical expenses, lost wages, lost wage capacity, lost interest from lost wage capacity, and court costs. The man and his attorney have requested a jury trial.

Source: Crane Accidents, "Texas Oil Rig Worker Sues Employer After Crane Accident" 24 October 2011