Overview of Workplace Accident Statistics in Midland, Texas  

Situated in the core of the Permian Basin, Midland is a central hub for oil and gas extraction, a significant contributor to the local economy, and a factor in the elevated risk of occupational accidents. The vast majority of workplace accidents in the Midland area occur in the energy sector, specifically in drilling, well servicing, trucking, and equipment handling. The data compiled in this report include observations and statistics from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI). By September 30, 2025, the 2024 data will still be preliminary due to the reporting timeframe, and the 2025 data will remain incomplete. In the totality of work-related incidents, we present descending order organization of key statistics by category and, where possible, by date. The time frame is 2022, 2023, and 2024 (respectively), as it pertains to the Permian Basin and Midland, Texas, specifically.   

Key Takeaways from Recent Workplace Accident Data (2022–2024) 

• Worker Fatalities: The Midland-Odessa area experienced two fatalities in 2024 (compared to 0 in 2023), accounting for Texas having the leading number of accident fatalities in the nation, with a total of 826 (the averages are still preliminary). Oil and gas extraction alone contributed to 41 total fatalities in Texas in 2022, and after analyzing work-related incidents associated with oil and gas extraction, transportation incidents accounted for more than half.  
• Severe Injuries: At least 15 severe injuries (including amputations and eye loss) were reported in the Midland-Odessa oilfields in 2024, a 36% increase since 2022, representing nearly 30% of Texas's total oilfield severe injuries (1,134 from 2015 to 2022). 
• Nonfatal Injuries and Illnesses: In 2023, Texas reported 2.6 million nonfatal incidents (a 8.4% decrease from 2022), resulting in a nonfatal injury/illness incidence rate of 2.4 nonfatal injuries/illnesses per 100 full-time employees. Support activities for oil and gas extraction had the highest incidence rate, at 148.9 per 100,000 workers (2015–2016 data were used for trend analysis, with comparable trends observed in more recent years).  
• Top Contributing Factors: Vehicle accidents (26.8% of oilfield fatalities), contact with equipment or objects (21.7%), explosions or fires (14.5%), and falls (10%). Fatigue, rushed work, and a lack of training increase the risk in Midland's high economic activity context.  
• Regional Impact: The Permian Basin (including Midland) accounted for 31.5% of U.S. oil/gas fatalities (2014–2019), despite producing 40% of the nation's oil. Midland County reported >300 nonfatal injuries in 2023. 

Worker Fatalities in Midland Workplaces 

Most of Midland's fatalities are in oilfield work activity in West Texas, with a considerable component of fatality crashes on roadways, such as US-285, dubbed "Death Highway." Texas also led the United States in 2024 (preliminary) with 826 work-related fatalities, down from the 928 in 2023, but still the highest in the United States.  

• 2024: 2 fatalities in Midland-Odessa, mainly related to oilfield injuries (e.g., electrocution, crush), resulting in OSHA investigations into 12 deaths statewide.  
• 2023: 0 fatalities, a unique reduction in the face of historical Permian production levels (5.6 million barrels/day), Texas total: 928.  
• 2022: 5 fatalities (estimated for the region), with 41 statewide oil/gas deaths; transportation caused 23; Permian multi-fatality events totaled 41 (2014–2019). 
• 2014–2019 (Cumulative): ~148 fatalities (31.5% of U.S. oil/gas total); Permian Basin led, with Texas having 219 total oil/gas deaths. 

Many of Midland’s workplace fatalities involve subcontracted well-servicing crews. Between 2008 and 2017, a total of 1,566 oil and gas workers died nationwide, a number comparable to the deaths of U.S. troops in Afghanistan during the same period.   

Severe Injuries in Midland Workplaces 

OSHA reports indicate severe injuries (amputations, hospitalizations, loss of an eye) are occurring 70% of the time in the well-servicing subindustry. The upsurge in Midland is correlated with the record number of 489 active rigs in 2018, along with heavy local traffic (a factor in severe injuries).  

• 2024: 15 severe injuries in Midland-Odessa, a 36% rise since 2022; includes crushes, falls, burns; ~30% of Texas's 1,134 severe oil/gas injuries (2015–2022). 
• 2023: 13 severe injuries, up from 12 in 2022; upper extremities affected in 42.6% of cases. 
• 2022: 12 severe injuries, common in support activities (e.g., drilling contractors: 375 national cases). 
• 2015–2022 (U.S. Total): 2,101 severe injuries (Texas: 1,134; Permian: ~30%), with 417 amputations, 1,194 hospitalizations; Texas led with 54%. 

According to BLS data for Oil and Gas Extraction (NAICS 211), the injury rate is 1.5 per 100 FTE in 2023. Upper extremities had the most injuries at 42.6% and these injuries are classified as crush injuries.  

Nonfatal Injuries and Illnesses in Midland Workplaces 

Nonfatal injuries and illnesses in Texas private industry workplaces provide more context. In 2023, the BLS calculated the incidence rate of private industry nonfatal injuries and illnesses at 2.4 nonfatal injuries and illnesses per 100 workers. Oil and gas jobs in private industry are higher; in fact, oilfield support activities reported the highest injury rate, with 148.9 nonfatal injuries and illnesses per 100,000 workers over two years, based on BLS rates reported for 2015-2016 (if these rates are sustained).  

• Total Nonfatal Cases: Texas reported 2.6 million cases in 2023 (down 8.4%), with >300 in Midland County. Injuries stable at 2.4M; illnesses down 56.6% to 200,100 (mainly respiratory). 
• Incidence Rate: 2.4 per 100 workers in Texas; ~1.5 in the oil/gas sector. Highest in oil support (148.9/100,000); falls/slips common (top cause statewide). 
• Days Away from Work: High in construction/oil; 20% drop in construction claims (2024), but hospitality up 41%. 

The Permian Basin's rapid expansion, which accounts for about 40 percent of the U.S. oil supply, is a contributing factor to the increasing number of workplace injury cases. Underreporting occurs frequently due to exemptions for contractors. 

Vehicle and Transportation Accidents in Midland Workplaces 

Vehicle crashes are the #1 killer in oilfields (26.8% of deaths), with Midland's rural roads overwhelmed by hauls. TxDOT reported 897 truck accidents in Midland-Odessa in 2023. 

• US-285 ("Death Highway"): High accident rate (93+ fatalities/year estimated); 56 oil/gas worker deaths (2017–2019 TxDOT). 
• I-20 (Midland-Odessa): 897 truck accidents; ~50% of Permian's 962 fatal crashes (2018–2023). 
• FM Roads/State Highways: Overburdened; 20% reduction in Permian fatalities since 2022 (PRSC). 

The factors of long, 14-hour shifts and inadequate road conditions are significant contributors to oil field work accidents. Last year, it was claimed that transportation incidents accounted for 41% of deaths in the oil industry in Texas.   

Notable Workplace Incidents in the Midland Area 

Notable workplace incidents have drawn attention to the implications of oilfield safety, including explosions and spills, which have recently been reported to OSHA.  

• Oct 2024: Near Toyah (Reeves Co., near Midland), orphaned well blowout; H2S gas release. No fatalities; 8+ similar Permian incidents since 2023. 
• Feb 2024: Upton Co. (near Rankin), pulling unit explosion at Parsley Energy well. 3 deaths (family members). 
• May 2023: Upton/Midland Counties, 400,000-gallon EnLink pipeline spill. Operator error: the largest Permian spill since 2010. 
• Aug 2017: Midland County, cable snap on wellhead platform. 1 death (Juan De La Rosa); OSHA cited violations. 



The Railroad Commission (RRC) has been monitoring over 100 spills of crude oil in the state of Texas since the beginning of 2022. In 2024, OSHA issued 316 citations in the Permian Basin, resulting in approximately $1.4 million in penalties.  

Trends 

• Production vs. Safety: Texas produced 1.92 billion barrels in 2023 (42% of the U.S total), but oil fatalities doubled between 2021 and 2022. Midland's projected boom (at 3.9M barrels/day) is severely overloading existing resources.   
• Regulatory Notes: OSHA's Permian STEPS Network promotes training; Texas ranked #1 for fatalities but saw a 13% drop in severe injuries statewide (2024). Critics highlight underreporting. 
• Limitations: BLS data excludes self-employed/public workers; focuses on upstream activities. For raw data, visit the BLS IIF or the OSHA Fatality Inspection. 

A2X Law: Your Advocate for Workplace Safety and Justice 

The risks associated with Midland's oil and gas sector highlight how crucial it is to put appropriate protocols in place and give employees and their families sufficient representation. A2X Law is committed to defending victims of accidents at work, including situations involving wrongful death, personal injury, and workers' compensation. A2X Law has an understanding of the complexity of issues in the Permian Basin and advocates for fair compensation, as well as accountability when workers are injured or lose their lives. If you or a loved one has experienced a workplace accident, reach out to A2X Law to discuss legal options and the support you need.  

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