Today, employee safety remains the main concern for oil and gas organizations, as workers are exposed to adverse hazards. Furthermore, regulatory and health standards have tightened, so companies face heavy penalties for failing to comply. Facility management services and remote solutions are already here to help organizations increase workforce security, develop comprehensive safety plans, and provide interactive training programs.
So, what immediate actions should leaders take to protect their workforce? Below you can find concrete workplace safety tips that we recommend following to mitigate risks and guarantee a healthy work environment.
1. Provide a Training Program for Workers
Thorough training sessions are one of the best ways to improve company safety culture and reduce potential risks. You can arrange courses to teach your staff how to perform their job duties securely and effectively in fields and oil and gas facilities. Additionally, it’s crucial for oil and gas employees to follow, test, and adopt new technologies. This way they can gain new knowledge and boost their career opportunities. Needless to say, a competent employee is a valuable asset to any organization and industry these days.
2. Ensure Employee Welfare
Human resources in O&G suffer from frustration and stress more often than in other industries. They are under pressure to avoid errors, since they may have severe consequences for the environment or society. Moreover, offshore workers are often away from family and friends for a long time. Isolation, depression, fatigue, and anxiety impact workforce efficiency and safety, so it’s crucial to support their mental health.
3. Perform A Quality Analysis of Facilities and Site Operations
Quality analysis of site operations gives you a better understanding of where possible dangers may emerge, so you can react to accidents proactively. Sensors and IoT monitoring systems help gather more information on oil and gas production facilities for you to make a thorough analysis. The data combined with automation technologies can better support the effective management of industrial facilities.
4. Enable Real-Time Communication to Prevent Accidents
A digitally empowered workforce with access to IoT and cellular networks to power devices can have a significantly lower rate of incidents. Smartphones and wearables can provide on-demand, voice-controlled access to the necessary data to complete the task safely. Operators can call anyone to report an incident or receive instructions on what to do further in real-time.
5. Perform Unsafe Tasks with Remote Technologies
Robotics, drones, sensors, and other devices can augment industry safety standards as they are designed to work in harsh conditions and risky environments. You can utilize them for remote inspections of pipelines and offshore sites, pinpointing leakages and getting a more informed view of the hazard.
Additionally, robotics technology can track the levels of harmful gasses in confined areas and monitor employees’ locations and vitals, lowering the risk of injury.
6. Switch to Preventive Asset Maintenance
Did you know that 3.65 days of unexpected downtime cost oil and gas organizations $5.037 million a year? Sudden failure of machinery is both costly and risky. Predictive maintenance is a solution that can help businesses minimize incidents and improve company safety culture. The staff will know where exactly the problem is and if the environment is safe to fix it.
7. Apply Digital Twins to Detect Safety Issues
Digital twin technology enables the creation of accurate models that virtually replicate complex processes, equipment modifications, and design before applying them in the real world. Companies can use this technology to register and tag on-site hazards and integrate health and safety protocols.
Also, you can detect early signs of equipment failure or degradation, enabling proactive maintenance and thus reducing caught-in incidents. From this perspective, dangers and inefficiencies become more apparent, allowing you to respond immediately.
Contact Tiger General Now!
Our knowledge at Tiger General has given us the tools and experience to help several companies address their barriers and goals. If you need a new piece of equipment, fill out the Tiger General Truck Inquiry Form today!