Oil and Gas Extraction Safety Issues, Research Paper Example

It is essential to study the health and safety issues relevant to the oil and gas extraction field because it is a dangerous but necessary occupation. According to OSHA, 823 workers in this field were killed on the job from 2003 to 2010, a fatality rate greater than all other industries in the United States. While many professions have threats to safety, oil and gas extraction workers face a greater amount of these potential dangers on a daily basis. It is therefore important to consider how these accidents occur and what could be done to prevent them.

I. Causes of on-the job deaths and accidents in the oil and gas extraction industry

a. On-the-job death in this field is typically a consequence of vehicle accidents, workers getting struck by/caught in/caught-between machinery that they or others operate, explosions and fires, falls, confined spaces, and chemical exposures

II. Prevention of accidents

a. Many of these causes of death can be avoided if the oil and gas company strictly adheres to OSHA principles

i. Although 823 workers have died in this industry in a 7 year period, adherence to OSHA has been shown to reduce deaths in this field

b. It is necessary to educate employees about proper safety procedures necessary for their job, which include:

i. Knowledge about how to put out a chemical fire or who to contact if one arises

ii. Reporting unsafe equipment, including platforms that do not have safety railings or are not regularly inspected

iii. Driving carefully despite time constrictions and timeliness that the company may emphasize

iv. Basic knowledge about chemical exposures and how to access facilities that can help treat the exposure and protect the employees