Injury research targets offshore oil and gas extraction safety
During 2003-2008, 648 oil and gas extraction workers were killed on the job (onshore and offshore, combined), resulting in an annual fatality rate of 29.1 deaths per 100,000 workers, over seven times the rate for all US workers. Nearly 11 percent of the industry’s fatalities occur offshore; during 2003-2008, 69 fatalities occurred among offshore oil and gas extraction workers. The purpose of this NIOSH project is to use the public health approach to reduce the injury hazards present in the U.S. offshore oil and gas extraction industry. This approach includes investigating the most frequent fatal events in the offshore oil and gas extraction industry, analyzing available surveillance data to identify research and prevention priorities, and creating products for workers and management to minimize associated risks. NIOSH will partner with oil and gas extraction companies, industry safety experts, and workers to identify those hazards and their risk factors, and then work with industry to create compelling communication products.