US Oilfield Deaths Rise Sharply LAWTON, OK (kccu-fm) - As the number of people working in oil and gas fields rises so does the number of people being killed in those fields.

Inexperienced workers are being blamed for much of the increase after experienced workers left the industry during the oil bust of the 1980s.

The Associated Press has found at least 598 workers died on the job in oilfields or gas fields between 2002 and 2007.

The numbers have risen from 72 deaths in 2002 to 125 in 2006 and a preliminary of 120 more deaths last year.

Mark Altom of Oklahoma-based Energy Training Council says many rig crews are made up of people who were virtually working the day before at a Wal-Mart.

Drug use also gets some blame but no one knows how many deaths and injuries have resulted from drug use by rig crews.

Altom says in some places methamphetamine use is so prevalent it is difficult to keep crews together.
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