Other companies claiming the top Rocky Mountain Oil and Gas Awards can be found on the website.
Total Safety is a finalist in two more Oil and Gas Awards regional awards events — the Gulf Coast and the Northeast. Texas Railroad Commissioner Ryan Sitton will open the Gulf Coast Oil and Gas Awards in Houston on Thursday, March 19, at the Hyatt Regency. President & Executive Director Lou D’Amico of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association (PIOGA) will open the event in the Northeast on Wednesday, March 25, at the Westin Convention Center in Pittsburgh.
HOUSTON (Feb. 5, 2015) — Total Safety U.S. Inc. today announced the company has been granted regulatory exemption for commercial use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) — small drones – for operations involving the inspection of flare stacks. This makes Total Safety the only company approved to perform flare inspections on land using Unmanned Aircraft Systems and one of just 24 companies throughout the United States granted exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) drone restrictions for specific commercial use.
A study performed the American Red Cross found a combination of learning in a conventional classroom and a virtual environment could be the experience workers need to improve their emergency response, Occupational Health and Safety magazine reported.
The American Red Cross analysis of the U.S. Department of Education studies and other research revealed both types of learning environments are necessary to develop the skills to properly react in emergency situations.
Employers often include fire safety and fire watch safety training for oil and gas workers, as they are at risk for fires and explosions in the workplace. In the aftermath of an incident, companies also find that first aid and other procedures for life-supporting procedures are crucial to minimize fatalities at work sites.
A virtual environment could be crucial to train future oil and gas workers.
With more attention to emergency response programs, firms are focusing on the best ways to teach workers how to operate equipment and comply with health and safety regulations.
“As the oil and gas industry is using more advanced technological solutions to recover petroleum resources, technology is integral for firms to better train their workers.”
Virtual technology aids in oil and gas workforce training
As the oil and gas industry is using more advanced technological solutions to recover petroleum resources, technology is integral for firms to better train their workers.
Industrial Safety and Security Source reported on media and software firm FuelFX that makes visualization technology for workers to enhance operational safety. The company uses 3D imaging and visualization tools to train workers for work environments located both onshore and off.
The American Red Cross studied simulation learning, which offers a risk-free environment for employees to practice their skills. By learning from their mistakes, workers are more prepared to handle emergency situations.
The proponents of this virtual technology argue that practicing in this environment allows workers to retain more information about awareness at work, according to ISSS.
Another major learning tool health and safety professionals are turning to is scenario-based teaching, which gives workers more hands-on experience. This type of learning could encourage workers to remember their training.
“Scenario-based methods are very engaging,” according to one simulation training researcher quoted in the new research, OHS magazine reported. “That is how adults like to learn. They like to apply information that they already know or new information to situations that they are likely to experience or that they have experienced in the past.”
Whichever method oil and gas companies choose to pursue, it’s important for them to focus on the basics of training to help comply with safety regulations.
With the oil and gas production boom in major shale regions of the U.S., the surge in oil production is presenting companies with key challenges for worker safety and regulatory compliance.
In North Dakota's Bakken shale, oil production increased to 1.1 million barrels per day in August, up from 230,000 bpd in January 2010. With this jump in output, companies are considering what's the next step in enhancing worker protection.
North Dakota has opted to lower its flaring for natural gas to be more in line with other energy-producing states, The Wall Street Journal reported. Recently, the U.S. Energy Information Administration said North Dakota is inching toward achieving its reduction target for flared natural gas. The state expects to capture 90 percent of flared gas by 2020.
Since this flare reduction target is still in progress, oil and gas operators in the state will have to find improved ways to control and manage their flaring safely.
Flares at oil and gas facilities should be regularly checked and maintained.
Here are four factors about flares that could affect worker health and safety:
"With this jump in output, companies are considering what's the next step in enhancing worker protection."
1. Emergency planning
Oil and gas companies operate flares to safely burn excess gases in facilities, as such it's important they invest in emergency planning and preparation to protect workers. Employers should have a plan of what to do in case flares are unable to function correctly. This includes how they may have to evacuate the facility in case of an equipment malfunction or the necessary personal protective equipment workers will have to don to guard against any harmful exposure.
2. Maintenance
During an emergency, flare systems will need to release gas through piping to flare stacks to relieve pressure in piping or equipment. However, employers may be unaware of potential problems with this equipment if they have not checked it recently. Since there is the risk of malfunction in flare and ignition systems at oil and gas facilities, employers should consider implementing regular maintenance and testing for these systems to ensure they are working properly. Flares that are not regularly checked may pose a greater danger to facilities as this could increase the chance of fires and explosions.
3. Ventilation
While companies may not expect workers to inhale gases emitted from flares, outside containments have a high likelihood of mixing with indoor air. The gases that are being burned may be toxic depending on the type of gas and concentration. Companies should assess whether the gases that are being burned are more dangerous in their combustion form. With the risk of poor indoor air quality resulting in negative health effects for workers, employers should consider improving their ventilation systems as well as installing air purification equipment in case there is a high concentration of hazardous gases in the workplace.
4. Noise
When flaring natural gas occurs, it often produces a loud noise. Employees who work near flares may be at risk for hearing loss or other auditory problems. According to the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, almost 125,000 members of the national workforce have reported serious or permanent hearing loss since 2004. Employers could provide their workers with hearing protection like ear muffs or plugs to prevent loud noises from affecting their hearing.
With major oil regions like the Eagle Ford Shale and Permian Basin in Texas seeing booms in production, more workers are likely to take to the roads to and from their jobs in these rich oil fields. As energy firms endeavor to increase productivity and output, they also need to keep an eye on maintaining their workers' health and safety both on the job and off. Since workers will be commuting where their employers are stationed, they need to be well-rested to be able to drive safely.
What's surprising to safety experts in the oil and gas industry is that many of the worker fatalities occur not from hazardous chemical exposure or accidents involving machinery, but from transportation crashes. According to the Texas Department of Insurance, the oil and gas extraction industry had some of the highest fatality rates in the state in 2013. Overall, the leading cause of fatal work injuries in Texas was motor vehicle accidents.
One of the biggest factors in vehicle accidents is driver fatigue. A separate study by the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found fatigue was the top cause of driver distractions, representing 20 percent of all motor vehicle accidents.
While driver fatigue is major cause of accidents in other segments of the workforce, the oil and gas industry is especially susceptible. The risk of fatigue is high for oil and gas employees as they work long hours performing physically demanding jobs.
In accordance with U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines, employers should encourage oil and gas workers to practice safe driving and know when to recognize driver fatigue.
Here are three tips to combat fatigued driving:
Know the symptoms. The symptoms of fatigue include drivers having trouble keeping their heads up or struggling to prevent their eyelids from closing, which could result in them taking their eyes off the road. OSHA also warns that fatigued drivers could veer away from their lane or miss traffic signs. These symptoms could lead to a mini sleep, which leaves drivers impaired for a short yet crucial period.
Remind workers about the importance of sleep. When training employees about safe vehicle operation, companies could remind workers about the benefits of getting a full night's sleep and staying vigilant when driving. In the event drivers are too tired to operate a vehicle, they could pull over to rest or let someone else who is more alert take the wheel.
Plan a rest. Companies could consider asking employees to plan a rest stop during early morning or late night commutes as they may be drowsy during these hours.
Whether you need to send a quick email or notify employees of a major safety issue, a solid communication system is a must for oil and gas sites. While communication is already a top priority for energy firms, there are various scenarios that companies should prepare for and make sure their current communications systems are up to the challenge.
“Employers should determine whether their existing industrial communications equipment and services can fully handle the demands of their facilities and ensure the safety of the staff on site.”
Here are three situations that depend on effective industrial communications:
Mass communication
During a sitewide emergency, employers need to be able to reach all workers quickly to describe the danger in the workplace and give them further instructions on what to do next. In communicating to a large volume of people at the same time, companies should implement a mass notification system that will give employers the ability to alert employees to risks in real time, according to EHS Today. Employers should determine whether their existing industrial communications equipment and services can fully handle the demands of their facilities and ensure the safety of the staff on site. While this system is still new for some workplaces, it’s important to give employees accurate information that could help save their saves in an emergency.
Emergency response
When workers are exposed to chemical hazards or other safety risks that could prompt emergency response and rescue, supervisors or other employees need to be able to contact emergency services and give them the exact location of the people in distress. Since oil and gas workers may be exposed to a variety of risks, a good communications systems could speed up response times to put them in contact with emergency services and get them the help they need quickly.
Communications systems are integral to keeping managers and staff connected.
Safety risk prevention
As new workers come onto the field, they may not be experienced in recognizing specific dangers that could result in occupational injury or fatality. It’s the job of managers on site to inform all employees about dangers that could arise. By investing in improved communications systems, managers and workers can keep in touch with other so managers can educate workers on dangers and employees can report any unsafe practices or situations. Through focusing on safety risk prevention, employers can reduce the rate of injuries and fatalities among oil and gas workers and help them with. compliance with federal safety rules and regulations.
The oil and gas workforce is often at risk of being exposed to hazardous chemicals that could affect their long-term health and well-being. As employers consider the best ways to improve workplace safety, they should invest in complying with permissible exposure limits of dangerous chemicals.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration is going forward with an initiative to increase discussion between industry stakeholders and the agency regarding hazardous chemical exposure in the workplace, EHS Today reported.
According to OSHA, hazard communication is the No. 2 most frequently cited standard for noncompliance for fiscal 2014, surpassed only by fall protection. Compliance with the hazcom standard has been a challenge for employers after OSHA updated its 1983 hazcom standard to be more in line with the Globally Harmonized System for the Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS).
Changes in PELs in oil and gas sector
In addition to complying with the guidelines of the hazcom standard, oil and gas employers are also paying closer to changes to OSHA's PELs for common chemicals in the industry.
Before seeking ways to make PELs modern, Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA David Michaels said the agency will first request information on how employers handle hazardous chemical exposure, EHS Today reported.
"While we will continue to work on updating our workplace exposure limits, we are asking public health experts, chemical manufacturers, employers, unions and others committed to preventing workplace illnesses to help us identify new approaches to address chemical hazards," Michaels said.
OSHA is looking to make sweeping changes to PELs, with 95 percent of the exposure limits still unchanged after they went into effect in 1971.
OSHA aims to update the permissible exposure limits for respirable silica that were established in the 70s. The new rule would curb exposure limits to 50 micrograms of respirable crystalline silica per cubic meter of air during an 8-hour day from its current level of approximately 100 micrograms per cubic meter of air.
As the final rule is announced for restrictions for silica exposure as well as other changes to PELs, the oil and gas industry is working to modernize its safety operations to comply with these rules.
Respiratory protection is crucial for oil and gas worker safety in hazardous environments.
Here are ways to improve compliance with PELs in the oil and gas sector:
Invest in gas detection
As hazardous chemicals in the industry are often respirable and airborne, companies install devices for gas detection to measure the levels of these chemicals in the air. Using gas detection equipment could give managers more insight in whether an enclosed area or other space is safe for workers before they enter.
Employers have a wide variety of options for gas detection systems, including fixed and wireless equipment. With the flexibility of choices for gas detection and monitoring equipment, companies can detect accurate levels of contaminants in the air to ensure worker protection.
Additionally, they could also install single-gas or multi-gas monitors depending on their needs and the particular environment of their oil and gas sites.
Supply respiratory protection
"Equipment like fixed breathing air systems are integral for promoting a safe work environment and allowing workers to do their job even in hazardous breathing conditions."
A precise measure of hazardous gases and vapors can also allow employers to determine the right form of personal protective equipment to reduce exposure, including respiratory protection. Equipment like fixed breathing air systems are integral for ensuring a safe work environment and allowing workers to do their job even in hazardous breathing conditions.
In addition to PPE for respiratory protection, employers can also invest in air filtration systems that will remove airborne contaminants that result in violations of PELs. The air filtration units could prevent downtime in oil and gas operations and give workers a safe workplace to breathe freely.
Develop a comprehensive compliance plan
Without a compliance plan, employers may be unsure of how to approach compliance guidelines and deadlines. Through mapping out the standards they have to follow and the equipment and training they need, employers are better prepared to lower exposure limits.
For their compliance plans, employers should include employee training for managing these exposure limits and using the engineering controls and PPE needed to protect themselves.
Provide employees with hazcom materials
As part of the new hazcom standard, employers should educate workers about hazardous chemicals and give them the tools they need to combat exposure, including hazcom materials. As of Dec 1. 2013, employers were expected to train workers on recognizing the new components of labels and safety data sheets associated with the hazcom rule.
After this initial launch, the next compliance deadline is June 1, 2015, when employers as well as chemical manufacturers, importers and distributors are anticipated to comply with all provisions of the final rule. Additionally, distributors may not ship containers by the chemical manufacturer or importer without a GHS label.
As companies look for the right tools to maintain compliance with exposure limits for hazardous chemical, they should use personalized solutions that align with their particular workplace requirements.
With the flammable chemicals, gases and materials used in the oil and gas industry, employers are paying great attention to fire protection in the workplace. Controlling fire hazards is a key part of ensuring worker safety on extraction, refining and other sites.
In complying with rules established by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration for the general industry, oil and gas companies should utilize fire prevention plans, which could include equipment and training for workers.
Keep fire extinguishers close to areas where workers may be at risk for fire hazards, such as welding work stations.
Here are five ways to improve fire protection:
1. Assess initial fire safety workplace preparedness
While companies believe they are ready for fires or other incidents, a thorough inspection and safety audit may reveal unknown vulnerabilities at worksites. Evaluate any particular areas and workers at higher risk for flash fires or explosions. For example, workers performing hot work, such as welding, may be exposed to combustible or flammable materials. Look for areas where fire protection equipment is either old or malfunctioning and replace them with ones that are in good, working condition. These can include sprinkler systems as well as fire extinguishers.
2. Keep equipment for emergency response onsite
For welders and other workers at risk for similar hazards, supply their work stations and areas nearby with equipment such as fixed and portable fire extinguishers. Fire extinguishers need to be readily available for workers to use in an emergency and isolate the fire before it spreads to other parts of the worksite.
3. Install alert systems employees to fire risk
In the event of a fire, workers need to be warned immediately so they can evacuate the building or work area safely. Implement emergency alarm and mass notification systems that will alert employees to the danger. Companies also have the option of using a mass notification system that messages employees on their mobile devices warning of emergencies.
"Monitor the presence of these gases and vapors using combustible and toxic gas detection systems to avoid activities that may increase the chance of fire."
4. Measure dangerous gases with detection equipment
With the risk of fires and explosions, there may be hazardous gases in the air that could endanger worker health and safety. Monitor the presence of these gases and vapors using combustible and toxic gas detection systems to avoid activities that may increase the chance of fire. OSHA recommends discontinuing work if the detectors find that a flammable or combustible gas surpasses 10 percent of the lower explosive level. Educate workers on what is considered an acceptable level of these gases to allow them to be proactive in knowing when to stop work when it becomes unsafe.
5. Train workers to use equipment for fire protection
To reinforce your plan, be sure to train workers to operate fire protection equipment, including fire extinguishers. Give them instructional materials for these tools as well as provide a demonstration if necessary. Additionally, plan a fire drill to remind employees about safety procedures and educate them on how to properly evacuate the workplace. Posting evacuation directions and ways to exit the building near work stations may also help with protecting workers from fire-related injuries and fatalities.
While a new report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed a decrease in injuries and illnesses, oil and gas companies continue to face the challenge of maintaining employee health and safety while increasing production.
Occupational injuries and illnesses dropped to an incident rate of 3.3 cases per 100 equivalent full-time workers, according to the BLS. This sustains a downward trend in workplace incidents driven by decreases in the manufacturing, retail trade and utilities industries.
"Strong recordkeeping regarding incidents in the workplace could help firms recognize areas of improvement that could help save lives in the future."
While OSHA noted a drop in these sectors, the report said all other private industry sectors did not see significant changes.
As oil and gas companies work to minimize the number of injuries and illnesses among employees, companies should make sure to keep up with reporting requirements established by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Strong recordkeeping regarding incidents in the workplace could help firms recognize areas of improvement that could help save lives in the future.
New OSHA recordkeeping rules
In November 2013, OSHA proposed a new recordkeeping rule designed to increase access to workplace injury and illness data and reduce the number of incidents. OSHA officials said the proposal is designed to change how companies report incident records to OSHA, rather than add on new recordkeeping requirements.
In a September update by OSHA, the agency also supported a provision that would require employers to contact OSHA if there is a workplace fatality or an employee is hospitalized for a work-related hospitalization, amputation or eye loss.
"Hospitalizations and amputations are sentinel events, indicating that serious hazards are likely to be present at a workplace and that an intervention is warranted to protect the other workers at the establishment," said David Michaels, assistant secretary of labor for OSHA.
With these stricter regulations, oil and gas employers should consider how to improve their capacity to report and keep records of worker injuries and illnesses.
Here are ways to help with compliance with these proposed recordkeeping rules:
Equip workers with industrial communications equipment. Since workers are often spread throughout the field and off it, equipment for communications is integral to ensure incidents are reported quickly in case employees need medical attention.
Utilize software for recordkeeping. While some employers are choosing to report workplace accidents on paper, the new electronic reporting rules may necessitate software for easier recordkeeping. These solutions makes data easier to transfer and submit to OSHA and make sure it is accessible to both managers and staff.
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Communications systems are integral to keeping managers and staff connected.
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