Working on an oilfield can be extremely dangerous. While we certainly all take pride in our work, in this business there a number of unknown factors that can cause someone to get seriously injured at any moment. In fact, the Oil and Gas industry is one of the most dangerous careers in the US. The death rate in the industry is as high as 27.1 deaths per 100,000 workers. This is seven time the rate for ALL US workers. Common injuries include falls, explosions, fires, vehicle accidents, and chemical exposures.
With over 450,000 workers employed in the Oil in Gas industry it is extremely important that protect ourselves and our own coworkers from all possible hazards on the job. When shipping off to work remember to follow these tips to ensure workplace safety.
- Always, always, always follow the safety regulations of your workplace. Even if you think the rule is stupid and overly-precautious, follow it anyway. There is most likely a reason that it exists.
- Make sure to always wear your protective equipment. This means having your helmet, eye protection, boots, gloves, and other appropriate clothing on you at all times. No exceptions.
- Wear a respirator if working in an area with toxic chemical substances.
- Make sure all machinery is in proper working order. This eliminates any unpredictable machine behavior that could have devastating consequences
- Make sure to communicate clearly with your team members at all times. Make sure that you are all on the same page as to what is going on so you can handle any adverse situations more effectively
- Never use any machines that you are not trained for. As well, ensure that all your team members have proper training for the machinery that they are using
- Make sure that put back any tools or equipment you are using when you’re finished. This decreases the likely for slip and fall events
- Be alert and aware of your surrounding at all times. If something about the situation doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Trust your instincts and make sure that you’re always paying attention to your environment
- If an injury or accident does happen, be sure to report the situation to your supervisor immediately. This prevents the same thing from happening over and over
While our industry isn’t perfect, it is still our duty to make sure that we are doing the best we can to limit the amount of accidents that happen in our place of work. For our own safety and for the well-being of our families, it is vital to make sure we are cautious about how we conduct our work every single day.