Hazards Related to the Oil and Gas Industry
In addition to moving vehicle and struck-by/caught-in/caught-between accidents, oil and gas workers on rigs also face next most common hazard, fire and explosion primarily due to the ignition of flammable vapors or gases (14%).
- Flammable gases, such as well gases, vapors, and hydrogen sulfide, can be released from wells, trucks, production equipment or surface equipment such as tanks and shale shakers.
- Ignition sources can include static, electrical energy sources, open flames, lightning, cigarettes, cutting and welding tools, hot surfaces, and frictional heat.
Below is a more extensive list of hazards oil and gas workers have to guard against. As you can see, the list is long!
- Temperature extremes
- Slippery, uneven surfaces
- Utilities (underground, overhead)
- Excessive noise
- Day/night operations
- Fast pace, long work schedules
- Heavy equipment, equipment failure
- Moving vehicles and equipment (the cause of most accidents)
- Respiratory hazards (gases, dusts, vapors, fumes)
- Struck-by objects
- Excavations, confined spaces
- Pressure, blowout
- Hot work
- Fatigue, boredom, stress
- Workplace violence, terrorism
- Substance abuse, impaired Worker
- Worker fitness/health
- Lack of training
Watch this short podcast by Dan Clark of Creative Safety Supply (theSafetyBrief.com) that describes 7 types of hazards on oil and gas extraction sites.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
1-3. The next most common hazard on oil and gas rigs, after those involving moving vehicles and incidents of being struck or caught, is _____.
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