5/26/24, 2:09 PM Safety in Oil and Gas Industry: Common Hazards & Prevention

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Safety in Oil and Gas Industry: Common

Hazards & Prevention

Occupational safety is a key concern in any line of work, but especially so in

high-risk industries such as the energy sector. Oil and gas workers face a
host of potential dangers in their work environment, like falling equipment
and hazardous chemicals.

With a higher possibility of being struck by hazards, workplace safety

becomes all the more crucial — organisations should place the well-being of
their workers at the heart of their culture and values.

In an interview with McKinsey & Company


(https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-
performance/our-insights/transforming-safety-culture-insights-from-the-
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5/26/24, 2:09 PM Safety in Oil and Gas Industry: Common Hazards & Prevention

trenches-at-a-leading-oil-and-gas-company), Bernadette Spinoy — then

senior vice president of health, safety, and environment (HSE) from the
major global oil and gas player Total (https://totalenergies.com/)—talks
about how inculcating a collective mindset in which workers choose the
right behaviour even when no one is watching (https://magellanx.co)
can lead to a successful
safety culture transformation.

To encourage this collective behaviour, this article will cover 5 ways on how
safety can be achieved in the oil and gas industry.

Safety Hazards and Risks in Oil and Gas

Industry

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration

(https://www.osha.gov/oil-and-gas-extraction/hazards#confined) (OSHA),
these are just a few of the many workplace hazards that can occur in the oil
and gas extraction industry.

1. Falls

Workers often must work from elevated platforms or equipment. This poses
a risk of slips, trips, and falls that could cause serious bodily harm. Accessing
these places via a ladder, would thus require more precautions to safely 
guide workers. Vigilance and proper safety training are essential.

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5/26/24, 2:09 PM Safety in Oil and Gas Industry: Common Hazards & Prevention

2. Confined Spaces

Workers often must work within confined spaces, where there is a higher
risk of health hazards such as asphyxiation or exposure to toxic chemicals.
The ignition of flammable vapours or gases is also a possibility, in the event
(https://magellanx.co)
of small or narrow areas which would position workers directly in the danger
zone.

3. Machine Hazards

Oil and gas extraction involves working with or around dangerous

machinery. Workers could get struck by or caught between unguarded
machines, which may result in cuts, burns, or other serious injuries. This is
why routine checks and regular machine maintenance are important, as
well as alertness to one’s surroundings in high-risk areas.

4. Explosions & Fires

The ignition of flammable gases or vapours can also result in explosions or

fires, which can wreak damage on a large scale in such a hazardous
environment. Some causes include electrical energy sources, open flames,
and frictional heat. High-pressure lines may also leak or burst if not properly
maintained.

5. Physical Strain

Oil and gas extraction is a physically demanding job that, even with the
surplus of machines, often requires manual labour. Certain tasks, such as the
lifting of heavy loads or equipment, can continuously exert a strain on
workers’ bodies over time. Poor workplace ergonomics negatively affects
safety in this area and can increase the risk of injury.

Tips to Prevent and Reduce Hazards in

Oil and Gas Industry
While safety risks cannot be completely eliminated, they can be significantly
reduced through awareness of potential hazards and how they can be
avoided. Use these 5 safety tips to help improve worksite safety.

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5/26/24, 2:09 PM Safety in Oil and Gas Industry: Common Hazards & Prevention

Tip #1 Establish Good Safety Culture

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Workplace safety culture (/safety-culture-workplace/) is a collective set of

values and attitudes towards safety, which goes beyond the individual to the
overall safety of the organisation. This sense of solidarity would encourage
workers to obey rules and communicate hazards to keep themselves and
their fellow workers safe.

A good safety culture begins with strong leadership, as workers would feel
more reassured knowing that their well-being is being cared for from the
top down. Aside from having processes that are tailored to your company, it
is important that these are clearly stated and reinforced in the worksite

Not only does this ensure that safety precautions are observed, it will also
give workers added peace of mind knowing the processes are in place for
their occupational safety. Furthermore, the mental health of workers will go
a long way in keeping them vigilant and alert on the job.

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5/26/24, 2:09 PM Safety in Oil and Gas Industry: Common Hazards & Prevention

Tip #2 Learn to Embrace Automation &

Digitalisation

(https://magellanx.co)

While there are manual steps that can be taken to ensure overall safety,
such as installing safety signs or having highly visible floor marking, we live
in an age where technology can provide useful tools for detecting and
minimising hazards.

SOL-X solutions provide valuable data and leading indicators through AI and
IIoT. SOL-X (https://magellanx.co/solutions/sol-x/) is a management system
focused on behavioural safety. By collating data on risk assessment and
permits within the work environment, it provides real-time data to increase
worker situational awareness, enhancing both safety and efficiency.

Through smart wearables and AI technology, SOL-X (/solutions/sol-x/)

solution addresses human factors — the most common cause of workplace
accidents such as inaccurate fatigue management. By tracking conditions
such as heat stress levels, heart rate trends, and work rest hours, it also helps
workers monitor their symptoms to ensure that they are physically fit for the
tasks at hand.

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5/26/24, 2:09 PM Safety in Oil and Gas Industry: Common Hazards & Prevention

Tip #3 Use the Process Safety Approach

The International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP)
(https://www.iogp.org/) defines the Process Safety approach as the safe
management of oil and gas operations and processes, with the aim of
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preventing hazardous emissions or structural failures that could lead to
more severe consequences.

While the traditional approach to accident prevention is based on trial and

error, Process Safety attempts to identify trends and so more accurately
predict events based on probability. The implementation of relevant safety
precautions can thus protect workers from situations that can be easily
avoided.

According to the IOGP (https://jpt.spe.org/iogp-releases-report-process-

safety-fundamentals), there were 56 process safety events between 2007
and 2017 that led to 128 deaths. Combined with safety management
systems like SOL-X and culture programmes, having process safety will
greatly reduce the occurrence of oil and gas hazards.

Tip #4 Communicate with Emergency Response

Organisations

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5/26/24, 2:09 PM Safety in Oil and Gas Industry: Common Hazards & Prevention

Although prevention should always come first, unforeseen events may still
occur from time to time. In such cases, a quick response could save a life. It
is thus important for oil and gas companies to maintain good
communication with their local emergency response community.
(https://magellanx.co)
This includes emergency responders and health professionals who will be
able to take action and help minimise the consequences in the event of an
accident. Developing a collaborative relationship with these organisations
can also be beneficial to the workers by increasing awareness of emergency
and safety equipment.

Tip #5 Having Consistent Maintenance Activities &

Safety Programmes
As with anything, consistency is key. Conducting regular maintenance
checks and occupational safety training programmes can help to reinforce
safety messages, especially for new workers entering a company. Since the
job is highly focused on working with various equipment, routine
maintenance is also mandatory to prevent premature machine failure.

Risks and hazards can look different from day to day, especially if a project
begins that requires working with new materials or equipment. By
encouraging consistent training, this also ensures that workers are prepared
for any situation that may come their way.

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5/26/24, 2:09 PM Safety in Oil and Gas Industry: Common Hazards & Prevention

Enhance Safety of Oil and Gas Workers

with SOL-X Solutions
(https://magellanx.co)

In such a high-risk environment, the safety of oil and gas workers should
never be left to chance. The safety solutions provided by SOL-X
(/solutions/sol-x/) can not only reduce hazards in the worksite, but also
enable quicker responses and boost overall productivity.

Contact us (/contact-us/) to learn more about risk management and

accident prevention today.

Related News

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