From 2003 to 2010, 823 oil and gas extraction workers were killed on the job — a fatality rate seven times greater than the rate for all U.S. industries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages. Recognizing and controlling hazards is critical to preventing injuries and deaths. Workers in the oil and gas industry are exposed to a multitude of on-the-job hazards; this article will focus specifically on noise exposure, confined space dangers, respiratory risks and fall hazards.
Long-term exposure to hazardous noise can result in permanent hearing loss. Oil and gas workers are often exposed to harmful noise levels on the job. According to WorkSafeBC1, noise sources can include: