Workers in the oil and natural gas industry are subject to some of the most hazardous industrial conditions in the U.S. Oil and gas sites are often located in remote locations outdoors and generally operate year round regardless of weather conditions. From environmental hazards caused by extreme weather to those posed by machinery, materials and chemicals, individuals working in oil and gas face a wide variety of hazards.
Beginning with site construction through decommissioning, protecting the individual’s head and face should be a primary safety consideration during every phase of a project. In the drilling category alone, injuries to the head or eyes typically comprise more than 14 percent of recordable incidents, according to the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC). Furthermore, OSHA ranked incorrect use of personal protective equipment as fourth among most commonly cited violations in oil and gas well drilling and servicing in 2005. The cost of an injury to a worker’s head or face can be substantial.