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WHAT’S AT STAKE?

Employers and employees should be mindful about safety issues in oil and gas industry. One understands the constant pressure that comes with production and efficiency. One also understands that drilling projects are expensive, time-sensitive, and physically demanding. This will take its toll on health and safety in the oil and gas industry.

WHAT’S THE DANGER?

The most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2015) revealed that out of 120 workplace deaths in the mining, oil and gas extraction industry, 74 of them occurred within the support activities for oil and gas operations.

The constant pressure of efficient productivity due to the high cost of drilling projects, time away from home, long work days, and high physical demands takes a hefty toll on workers. These factors can ultimately affect worker safety by causing an increase in human error including misuse of equipment and inconsistent procedures that lead to accidents.

Safety in oil and gas industry is serious business. Knowing oil refinery hazards is especially important for employees and employers.

In addition, workers are susceptible to motor vehicle accidents, contact injuries, slips, trips, and falls. They may also encounter fires, explosions, chemical exposure, and confined space issues.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF

Oil and Gas Good Housekeeping

“Good Housekeeping” must be practiced day-by-day.  Quite often a crew will get ambitious and make sure everything is washed down, swept up, put away, hung up or otherwise disposed of. Then everyone sits back and waits until conditions get so bad that it all has to be repeated. Remember good housekeeping means keeping house at all times.

Benefits in Good Housekeeping in Oil and Gas Operations

1. Reduce drilling costs.
2. Increase hole drilled.
3. Improve control of drilling.
4. Conserve materials and parts.
5. Decrease rig down time.
6. Use space more efficiently.
7. Open access routes and enable better movement.
8. Lower incident rates on the rig.
9. Build higher crew morale.
10. Reduce rig fire hazards

Best Practices of Good Housekeeping

Crew members do those little jobs as they come up and not leave things lying around.  It is much easier to fix hazardous conditions when they first appear than it is to explain an accident that may result from them.

Important housekeeping practices are as follow:

• Put a tool back in the rack when you are finished using it.
• Sweep up or wash off any dirt or mud as soon as you can.
• Repair those loose steps, rickety handrails (check the base sockets and welds) and loose walkways.
• Keep cables, slings, chains, rope (catline), etc. coiled up and off the floor when not in use.
• Do not allow oil to collect on the rig floor or in the cellar.
• Do not block fire extinguishers.
• Do not block emergency exit routes.
• Keep the BOPs and cellar washed down and keep cellars jetted down.
• Keep all trash and miscellaneous parts from under sub-structure.
• Keep all excess pipe, connections etc., in a rack, not under or spread around the rig.
• Keep the water hose clean and coiled up, when not in use.
• Keep the water hose such that it cannot reach the kelly (kelly bushings).
• See that all fire extinguishing equipment is in the clear and ready for use.
• See that first aid kits and supplies are clean, filled and ready for use.
• Check all safety equipment (hard hats, shoes, goggles, gloves, gas masks, etc.) and ensure that they are clean and in good repair.

Oil and Gas Safety Tips

These must be communicated and addressed with workers.

1. Talk with your local emergency response team in the community.

Do this sooner rather than later. Initiate the conversation. Cooperate with emergency responders in your area. Present scenarios, and plan what’s best.

2. Invest in a safety training program that educates & unites workers.

Open, honest communication and respect among workers and supervisors represents the ideal.

3. Keep in touch with workers and their mental health.

“Worker culture” is a real thing. Your employees may put up a tough front, but keep an eye and ear out for exhaustion, stress, and much more. These mental states can lead to injuries and worse.

4. Be sure workers understand their roles and hazards.

A worksite is a busy place. New workers should understand their new roles. But even your veterans should be careful with changes and shift handovers. Require your employees to know the safety rules in the oil and gas industry.

5. Remind everyone in the workplace that housekeeping is important.

Oil industry safety topics aren’t fully discussed until you mention this. It gets overlooked, keep all work areas, floors, and pathways clear of trash, equipment, spills, etc.

6. Workers should be informed and warned with signs. Communicate clearly. Keep everything updated.

Effective signs, labels, and color-coding can save lives. Efficiency is also improved. Workers can locate tools, equipment, and workspaces quickly when they’re directed. Point out dangers and safety instructions when possible. Replace outdated or faded information. Always reassess your signs when projects shift.

7. Monitor employee driving behavior.

Safety precautions in oil and gas industry also depend on this huge factor. Driving and even riding in a vehicle accounts for the most fatalities in this field. Report issues, analyze drivers, and heavily monitor and correct concerning behavior and habits.

8. Machine maintenance is key.

This is paramount in OSHA standards for oil and gas industry. It plays an important role in keeping workers safe and keeping machines from failing. Offshore rigs can be hundreds of miles from land. Regular maintenance checks should be part of your company’s oil and gas safety management.

FINAL WORD

Good Housekeeping is the bedrock of the start of sound safety protocols and programs in the oil and gas sector. Without a buy – in by workers and owners, safety of workers is severely compromised.