The 3M company found that Canada loses 100 workers in confined spaces annually, and half of those people are the would-be rescuers. If the confined space fills with a dangerous substance, caves in, or has an exit blocked, a worker’s life is at risk. Work in confined spaces is necessary but extremely dangerous. In the oil and gas industry, employees may be required to work in storage tanks, pits, excavated areas, and wellheads.
The chance of fatality increases when an employee is working by him- or herself. In the U.S., the Occupational Safety and Health Administration reported that three out of five fatalities on oil and gas extraction sites were the result of being struck by, caught in, or caught between hazards, including vehicles, high-pressure lines, and falling equipment. Sixty-seven percent of falls are trips and slips and another 30% are falls from heights.ģ. According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, about 42,000 employees are injured by a fall annually, which is about 18% of all workplace injuries in Canada. While not as flashy as other risks, slips, trips, and falls are a significant hazard in the oil and gas industry. Explosions can occur when a fire gets out of control or if a vessel breaks under pressure.
Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the oil and gas industry has more deaths caused by fires and explosions than any other private industry in the U.S.įires can occur when flammable liquids or vapors are exposed to ignition sources like lightning, cigarettes, open flames, electrical sources, and sparks from hot work, but less obvious ignition sources include static, friction, and hot surfaces. Explosion and FiresĮxplosions and fires may not be as common as other oil and gas incidents, but they can be the most devastating. If you are involved in the oil and gas industry it is important to keep these top five workplace risks in mind.
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