Workers Injured in Drilling Accident

Two petroleum workers were injured yesterday afternoon in Orcutt after a drilling rig failed while raising a 40-foot long pipe during a drilling operation.

One worker, a 38-year-old male, sustained severe head injuries and was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital via Cal Star air ambulance. The second, a 32-year old male, suffered moderate injuries to his neck and back and was transported to the hospital via AMR ambulance.

According to the Santa Barbara Fire Department’s press release, workers for Bakersfield-based MMI Services were attempting to raise a pipe used for a drilling operation. For unknown reasons, the drilling rig that was lifting the pipe failed.

MMI Safety Manager, Rob Hayes, declined to release the names of the employees or comment on the incident.

The cause of the accident is under investigation by Cal OSHA.