Effective PPE, detection can help reduce risks in O&G

Enhancing safety in the oil and gas industry requires strategic investments in PPE, hazard detection, and employee training to mitigate risks and improve workplace productivity and safety outcomes, according to MSA Safety

IT is hardly necessary to remind anyone that the oil and gas industry is hazardous, but what actions can be taken to address these risks?

MSA Safety emphasises the crucial role that personal protective equipment (PPE) and hazard detection play in mitigating the inherent dangers of this sector.

With the right attitude, careful planning, and informed equipment choices, companies can significantly enhance their efforts to create a safer workplace.

The human tragedy of death at work is brought home powerfully through individual incident descriptions gathered by IOGP (International Association of Oil and Gas Producers).

Published in June 2024, IOGP’s ‘Fatal incident reports’ document covers 26 fatalities worldwide that occurred in 2023.

Of these, seven workers were victims of violent crime rather than industrial accidents. Five others lost their lives during road transport.

While working, four were drowned, three were burned, two were poisoned by gas, two were struck by a moving object, one was crushed, one was electrocuted, and one fell from height.

In some cases, businesses may have a duty to help protect their workers. Many choose to go above and beyond simply complying with the minimum legal standards.

In fact, they view worker safety as a profitable investment, resulting in a more productive workforce, greater operational continuity and less accident-related expense.

TOP HAZARDS

To see where investing in worker safety will count most, we should explore the main risks and challenges.

The US’ Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) gives a useful summary of safety hazards associated with oil and gas extraction activities. This includes extensive lists of links to further information in each case.