Operational Excellence in Oil and Gas Safety
Hundreds of thousands of people make their living in the oil and gas industry, contributing to our country’s energy supply and driving economic growth.1 But working in this sector isn’t without its risks. With 24/7 operations, heavy machinery and hazardous chemicals in sometimes remote locations, the risk of physical harm is elevated, requiring specialized protections to reduce these risks.
Despite the challenges, oil and gas safety has continued to improve with the help of advancements in technology, improved industry standards and best practices, smarter regulations, and ongoing research. These efforts have made the sector safer than ever, though it remains a high-risk workplace. This is why the industry places a premium on safety and keeps it front and center in all that they do.
The most dangerous aspect of the job is working with flammable materials and gases. Fires and explosions can be catastrophic, resulting in serious injuries or death. To prevent these accidents, companies must adhere to strict rules about equipment maintenance, emergency response planning, hazard identification and mitigation, employee training and more.
Another significant danger is the threat of severe head injuries, including concussions and skull fractures. These can keep workers off the job for weeks or months, reducing productivity and potentially causing long-term health problems.
Transporting and storing hazardous chemicals can also be dangerous. When a tanker truck crashes, for example, it can release hazardous substances and contaminate the environment. Companies must ensure they use the right transportation methods and conduct regular inspections of their systems to avoid these incidents.
In addition, a worker who gets struck by a vehicle or piece of equipment in the field is at risk for traumatic brain injury. personal safety gps trackers This type of injury can cause memory loss and other long-term health effects. Workers can prevent this by wearing proper PPE and following the rules for securing equipment.
While these risks are not entirely avoidable, the oil and gas industry continues to work tirelessly to improve worker safety through ongoing research, standards development, training, information transfer and advocacy. By being proactive about company safety measures, ensuring all employees receive the right training and are familiar with their workplace, and providing clear, highly visible floor marking and wayfinding to protect workers on site, oil and gas companies can minimize risk in their operations.
Join us at our Operational Excellence in Oil & Gas workshop in November to learn how to leverage data and technology for better safety tracking and reporting, reduce administrative work and build a world class safety culture. Register for the event today!