In the present day, GCC claims to account for 40% of oil reserves and 20% of natural gas reserves in the world. With the prevalence of oil and gas industry in GCC, the region has observed a high incidence of associated crew fatalities and deaths in its hazardous environment. Based on a CDC report for 2014-2019, a quarter of the oil and gas extraction workers died in the GCC from vehicular accidents, (26.8%), contact injuries (21.7%), and explosions (14.5%).
Regulatory bodies like OSHA and safety standards of API and ISO are responsible for outlining the industry standards in safety and reinforcing their compliance to protect the workers and insure the industry.
Safety Hazards and Risks in Oil and Gas Industry
The above-mentioned standards are formulated by regulatory bodies to target the major risk factors to safety in the oil and gas industry, as listed below:
Machinery Accidents
Heavy machinery is a leading cause of industrial accidents since even the smallest mistake in handling the equipment can threaten the life or cost a limb to the workers. Some of the most common machines involved in this type of accident are cranes, drills, forklifts, boilers, disks, chisels, furnaces, and oil rig machines.
Vehicle Collisions
Vehicles that carry oil and gas cargo are yet another potentially hazardous threat. In absence of properly marked vehicle zones or lanes, the workers run a risk of fatal collisions in the vehicle zones. Some of the prominent reasons for these vehicular accidents are distracted or fatigued drivers. This is why it is essential to deploy proper vehicle safety.
Explosions And Fires
Flammable gases and liquids are a part of the daily routine for oil and gas industry workers. A lot of these compounds pose significant hazardous risks for the workers’ lives, some with long-term effects on the crew’s health. Thus, it’s important to handle explosive hazards with maximum safety measures that keep up with the recommended health and safety standards for the industry.
Slips and Falls
Working on high platforms with heavy machines, there can be a lot of slippery spaces and liquids that can cause workers to slip and break limbs. Serious injuries can include broken necks and spines, permanently incapacitating the workers.
Challenging Work Conditions
Workers at oil and gas industries are required to be on call and onboard day and night, across different seasons with consistent work schedules. While there is no direct association, such challenging work conditions and induced fatigue can often result in serious workplace accidents, unless steps are taken to optimise crew schedules.
Read more: The most common causes of industrial explosions in industries today.
Safety Tips in Oil and Gas Industry to Prevent Accidents and Reduce Hazards
In recent years, the oil and gas industry has recognised the importance of HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) in their operations. Here are some recommended tips and practices that enable the industries to better comply with the regulatory standards and keep the “hazards” in the industry at minimum:
Installation of Explosion-Proof Cameras
Surveillance and monitoring is crucial for the efficient industrial operations, as well as to identify crew lapses, equipment issues, etc. and respond instantaneously. Explosion-Proof Cameras are an OSHA-mandate to promote safer work culture in hazardous environments of the oil and gas industry by ensuring “explosion-proof” surveillance and monitoring. The technology contains the sparks within the housing of the wire, prevents them from coming into contact with the volatile environment, and protects the industry from the resulting explosion.
Before investing in an explosion-proof solution, ensure that the cameras are ISO and ATEX certified to reliable protection.
Explore: Different Types of Explosion-Proof Cameras for the Oil and Gas Industry
Promoting the Use of PPE
Establish some mandatory oil and gas safety regulations like the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to insure your workers from everyday industrial hazards. Important PPE include hard hats and safety glasses to protect the workers in case of any collapse or items dropped from a height. Additionally, respiratory protection devices secure worker’s health by avoiding inhalation of dust, fumes, and gases released as end products at oil and gas industries. Finally, gloves and boots provide protection and prevent infection in case of injuries, cuts, and abrasions.
Inspection and Maintenance
Regular inspection and maintenance of the industrial site is necessary to foresee any workplace accident and address it beforehand. The assigned managers need to ensure that the pipelines, rigs, and refineries do not have any leaks or damage and are complying with OSHA’s safety regulations to drastically reduce the fatality risk at the facility.
Hazardous Waste Management
Managers are required to take measures for efficient hazardous waste management to serve the dual purpose of crew health and site safety. Regulatory bodies outline several standards to minimise the environmental impact of the oil and gas industry. Compliance with these standards ensures that the crew is not directly exposed to the hazardous waste produced during the refining process, securing them from several health issues like respiratory problems, cancer, etc. Furthermore, addressing and attending to oil spills immediately evades the risk of major fires and explosions.
Emergency Response Planning
It is essential that oil and gas industries have an emergency response plan in place in case of emergencies. Training the workers for this protocol through a series of drills helps the management avoid panic and stampede in case of a real emergency, thus protecting the human resources - the key to all the operations in an oil and gas industry.
Compliance with the Regulatory Standards
As mentioned before, compliance to regulatory standards is non-negotiable in case of hazardous oil and gas industries. These local, national, and international regulations outline specific guidelines for drilling, transportation, emission control, etc. Failure to comply with these OSHA, API, and ISO regulations can result in severe fines for the company.
Other Measures
It is advised to mark vehicle zones with marking tapes or lines to avoid vehicle collisions with crew. To promote a safe working policy around heavy machinery, always use proper signs to attract the attention of the pedestrians. The company can also invest in explosion-proof safety lights to maximise the visual access of the crew in dark or low-light work conditions and thus prevent casualties in the oil and gas facilities functioning around the clock.
Conclusion
The listicles above outline the safety regulations and the importance of adhering to them, especially for the highly volatile oil and gas industry. Without adapting to the evolving technological trends, establishing a safe work environment can be extremely challenging.
At SharpEagle, we are end-to-end safety consultants for your oil and gas industry. Our experts conduct a thorough site inspection of your facility to recommend the best safety solutions for your workplace. Our explosion-proof cameras and lights are ATEX and ISO-certified for safe and reliable communication and monitoring of your industrial operations. These safety solutions can be easily integrated with current devices to expand the operational efficiency. Our team also provides an overview that provides a detailed understanding of the functions of our ex-proof solutions. Furthermore, with consistent maintenance of the cameras and lights, we ensure their infallible functioning and longevity for smoother and safer operations at your industry.
For customised safety solutions, connect with our experts and book a free consultation call today!
You can also call us at +971-45549547 or mail us at sales@sharpeagle.uk
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