In February, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) partnered with the National Service, Transmission, Exploration, and Production Safety (STEPS) Network and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to promote “Step Up for Safety” in the upstream oil and gas (O&G) industry. Employers are encouraged to take time out to conduct site inspections, safety training, and other activities as part of the program, which is scheduled to take place through the end of March.
 |
How to ‘Step Up’
In order to raise awareness among employers and workers about hazards in O&G exploration industry, OSHA and its “Step Up” partners are encouraging employers to visit OSHA’s “Step Up for Safety” website (http://www.oshastanddown.org), participate in the recommended activities, and report how many employees participated in these events. Recommended activities include:
- Training
- Site or equipment inspections
- Hazard hunts
Step Up to Prevent Transportation Deaths
There is information available from OSHA on many different hazards in the O&G industry, including tank gauging hazards and silica hazards in hydraulic fracturing operations—but the big three hazards identified by OSHA are falls, struck-by/dropped object hazards, and fire and explosion hazards. Today we’ll look at what OSHA has to say about preventing transportation deaths in the O&G industry.
According to an analysis by NIOSH, 40% of fatalities in the O&G industry were transportation-related. A recommended practice report from the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers recommends that employers reduce these fatalities by:
- Requiring seat belt use. This implies, of course, that all vehicles are equipped with seat belts for the operator and all passengers, so make sure that’s the case.
- Checking driver credentials. Vehicles should not be operated by workers who are not licensed and trained or who are impaired.
- Using in-vehicle monitoring systems. These can be used to monitor drivers to make sure they are driving safely.
- Controlling the use of cell phones. Have a policy in place forbidding workers to initiate or answer mobile calls or messages while operating vehicles.
- Using journey management plans. Whenever possible, worker travel should be minimized or eliminated.
- Identifying impaired drivers. Employers should have a substance abuse identification and control program in place.
- Ensuring driver fitness and alertness. Drivers should have a medical examination at least once every 5 years to ensure they are fit enough to drive.
- Inspecting vehicles. Vehicles should be regularly inspected and maintained to make sure they are in safe working order.
- Creating a transportation management system. This system would include provisions for regular auditing and review of the system for effectiveness.
Tomorrow we’ll look at recommendations for reducing struck-by/dropped object hazards and fire and explosion hazards in the O&G industry.
Robert F. Donovan
March 23, 2016 12:01 pm
Professional drivers including CDL licensed operators exhibit many of the safe driving tips recommended although some succumb to texting while driving. This distracted driving is so obvious by the erratic movements of the vehicle. Employers could enhance compliance by employing a Roadmaster to evaluate drivers on the road from another vehicle. It could even be done through a cooperative reporting effort enhancing safety for all drivers.
On another but related topic is that the driving laws of each state are different resulting in out-of-state drivers being unaware of the rules of the road of a state they may be traversing. As an example some states require that headlights be turned on when the windshield wipers are on and also when in construction areas. Observations indicate that more than 30% non-compliance. However, the state driver’s manuals are often unclear in explaining this regulation and they do not specify that Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are NOT headlights and thus not in compliance as the rear lights are not lighted. Both of these items are confusing to drivers. States can do a better job with their driver’s manual, they can also communicate the rules with highway electronic signage, through agencies such as AAA, and through both vehicle and driver registration renewal literature. It is a knowledge gap that needs to be fixed.
– See more at: http://ehsdailyadvisor.blr.com/2016/03/og-employers-encouraged-to-step-up-for-safety-to-prevent-transportation-deaths/?replytocom=100781#respond