OSHA issues hazard alert for fracking and drilling
In an OSHA hazard alert, “Hydraulic Fracturing and Flowback Hazards Other than Respirable Silica,” (issued in late 2014), the agency states that more workers are potentially exposed to the hazards created by hydraulic fracturing and flowback operations due to the large increase in the number of these operations in the past decade. In light of this, OSHA has determined that additional information concerning hydraulic fracturing and flowback operations hazards should be provided to educate and protect workers.
While not a new process, hydraulic fracturing has been increasingly used in the last ten years due to the increase in horizontal well development, which requires multiple stimulation stages per well, according to OSHA. Hydraulic fracturing involves pumping large volumes of fluid blended with proppant and chemicals at pressures necessary to fracture a hydrocarbon-containing formation. Once the fractures are created, proppants are placed within the fractures to hold them open and allow for the release and flowback of fluids and hydrocarbons.