How Injuries Occur in Drilling Operations
The potential that an accident may occur on a drilling rig is inherent in all tasks. However, the probability or likelihood that an accident can occur may be greater for some tasks than for others. Depending on "luck" more than anything else, the severity or degree of the injury will vary with each injury accident.
The old saying, “it's not the fall that kills, it’s the sudden deceleration,” is very true. Injury severity is reflected by the nature of the injury (amputation, fracture, laceration) and by the amount of time the injured employee is unable to work.
Injuries that result from hazards unique to oil and gas well drilling operations can be broadly classified into two major categories:
- those injuries incurred during task-specific operations
- those injuries incurred during more catastrophic events such as blowouts, derrick collapse, and hydrogen sulfide exposures.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-1. According to the text, what is the primary factor determining the severity of an injury?
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