1. Safety Hazards Associated with Oil and Gas Extraction Activities.
Vehicle Collisions
Struck-By/ Caught-In/ Caught-Between
Explosions and Fires
Falls
Confined Spaces
Ergonomic Hazards
High Pressure Lines
Electrical and Other Hazardous Energy
Machine Hazards
2. The biggest threats to Oil Rig Worker Safety.
Human Error
Worker Culture
Recklessness
Negligence
Lack of proper personal protective equipment (PPE)
Miscommunication
STATS
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, the number of fatalities in the oil and gas extraction industry rose from 81 in 2017 to 94 in 2018.
A total of 120 fatal work injuries occurred in the oil and gas extraction industry. The three most frequent fatal events were transportation incidents (41 percent), contact with objects and equipment (25 percent), and fires and explosions (15 percent). The number of fatal work injuries associated with fires and explosions over the past five years ranged from 10 fatalities to 21 fatalities.
A new study from 2017 by API showed the natural gas and oil industry employed 10.3 million people in the U.S. and contributed more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy.
The leap in employment and activity spiked the number of work-related fatalities by 27.6% and resulted in 1,189 deaths.
The top events that resulted to the most fatalities in the US Oil and Gas extraction industry:
Transportation: 479 deaths (40.3%)
Contact injuries: 308 deaths (25.9%)
Fires/Explosions: 170 deaths (14.3%)
Falls: 97 deaths (8.2%)
Exposure to harmful environments: 105 deaths (8.8%)