Aug. 29 (UPI) — A U.S. government report published Tuesday emphasizes the need for stricter safety measures in the oil and gas industry, which has seen nearly 500 on-site deaths over the course of six years.
As a global leader in oil and gas production and the largest exporter of liquefied natural gas, the United States must prioritize safety in this sector.
The study from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reveals that 470 individuals working in the oil and gas industry lost their lives while on the job between 2014 and 2019.
This data was published in the CDC’s weekly Mortality and Morbidity Report.
The report focuses on the upstream side of the energy sector, specifically exploration and production. It highlights the unique and challenging environment in which workers operate, noting a lack of research into occupational safety.
“Workers in oil and gas extraction face significantly higher fatal occupational injury rates compared to the average for all U.S. workers,” states the report.
“These workers have physically demanding jobs, are exposed to hazardous chemicals and toxic gases, endure long commutes, work in shifts, and face all kinds of weather conditions.”
Although fatalities in offshore operations are rare, past incidents demonstrate the inherent risks. For example, an explosion on the Echo Platform in the Gulf of Mexico resulted in one fatality and three injuries in 2014. Additionally, the collapse of a rig owned by Hercules Offshore in the previous year caused no major injuries. In 2011, the Deepwater Horizon tragedy resulted in the death of 11 workers, making it one of the worst environmental disasters of its kind.
Among the 470 reported fatalities during the study period, 27% were due to vehicle incidents and 14% were related to explosions. Contractors accounted for 75% of the total fatalities, with 20% occurring among workers operating alone.
Surprisingly, only 7% of worker fatalities were reported by the news media, while the majority were identified by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Furthermore, 17% of the fatalities involved more than one death.
The federal report emphasizes the importance of ongoing surveillance of industry accidents to prevent further tragedies.
“To improve worker safety, it is essential to implement robust safety and health management systems, foster a positive workplace safety culture, and encourage collaboration among government, academic institutions, and industry partners,” the report concludes.
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