Driller in Oklahoma explosion has history of fatal accidents

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Ten workers have died over the past decade at well sites linked to drilling contractor Patterson-UTI, the same driller involved in this week's rig explosion in Oklahoma that killed five workers, federal records show.

An analysis of Occupational Safety and Health Administration data shows the previous accidents happened at drilling sites in Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, Pennsylvania and Texas.

The company also was fined nearly $367,000 over the past 10 years for more than 140 safety violations, many of them serious.

"Patterson-UTI has embraced a culture of continuous improvement in safety, training and operations," the company said in a statement in response to questions about its safety record. "In recent years, we have invested millions of dollars on training and protective equipment and worked to instill a company-wide culture where safety is the top priority of each employee."

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