The oil and gas extraction industry continues to expand in the United States, but this growth comes with increased risks for workers in the industry. During 2003–2016, 1,485 oil and gas extraction workers were killed on the job, resulting in an annual fatality rate more than six times higher than the rate among all U.S. workers.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is collaborating with partners in industry, government, academia, labor, and with other stakeholders to achieve successful and sustainable outcomes to improve worker safety and health across the oil and gas extraction industry. On December 4–5, NIOSH will gather with these partners as well as hundreds of other oil and gas safety and health professionals, managers, and workers in Houston for the 2018 OSHA Oil & Gas Safety and Health Conference. This is the largest gathering of safety and health professionals in the oil and gas extraction industry. Attendees will hear from researchers across many disciplines about research and prevention activities designed to keep the workers in the U.S. oilfields safe and healthy. Below are examples of NIOSH research that will be featured at this conference.