There lots of risky occupations out there. However, the risks of working on oil rigs surpass almost all the risks that come with being in other workplaces and occupations. This is why oil rigs are classified as the riskiest of all occupations your can engage in.
The main thing to note about risks of working on oil rigs is that they are largely unavoidable. Workers are in the rigs for about 12 hours every day. They are expected to deal with materials that are highly combustible. In the same way, the platforms they are located in are dangerous in the sense that cranes are constantly swinging heavy equipment over head.
Seeing as most of the rigs are located away from civilization of any kind, it follows that chances of dying on account of the dangers posed by the risks of working on oil rigs are very high. Even if there are clinical mechanisms to deal with emergency cases and accidents, it does not suffice for most people.
All in all, you can rest assured that there are numerous risks of working on oil rigs. Most of these risks cannot be avoided. However, seeing as so many people are in need of jobs, it follows that they will still accept to be contracted to work in oil rigs in spite of the high risks that are associated with working in such environments.