Parker Drilling Co. v. O'NEILL

OPINION

RABINOWITZ, Justice.

Thomas James O’Neill was fatally injured on February 9, 1979, while working for Weatherford Oil Tool Co. The fatal accident occurred on Parker Drilling Company’s Rig 141 operating in Prudhoe Bay. Weath-erford and Parker were both independent contractors working for ARCO. Melneeta O’Neill sued Parker for injuries to herself and her two children as a result of her husband’s death. The central issues in this appeal arise from the fact that Parker was not Thomas O’Neill’s employer.

On February 9, O’Neill was working as a “stabber” on a platform called a stabbing board. 1…