Safety Hazards in the Oil and Gas Industry

Safety hazards in the oil and gas industry are inevitable. It is a high-risk sector that poses various risks to workers due to the environment and labor work, with a recorded 20 employee deaths in the industry in 2021 (JPT, 2022). Beyond that, an estimated 14% of noise-exposed workers in the oil and gas sector have hearing loss (NIOSH, 2019). Inadequate hearing protection in the oil and gas industry leads to accidents and injuries. Workers who cannot hear warning signals or instructions are at a higher risk of being involved in accidents that can be fatal or have a long-lasting impact. Therefore, to mitigate safety hazards, it is necessary to identify threats and take the right steps to prevent them before it is too late.

Explosive Atmospheres

One of the most prominent hazards in the oil and gas industry is the explosiveness of the atmosphere. Due to the nature of the products, this safety risk is constant. These explosions can occur during drilling, the refining processes, or while being near flammable gasses. These events can cause severe injuries or even fatalities, potentially resulting in massive property damage, environmental pollution, or business interruptions. There is an unequivocal need for intrinsically safe equipment in the oil and gas industry that cannot be overemphasized. Intrinsically safe equipment is designed to prevent sparks or electrical discharge in environments where flammable gases, vapors, and dust are present. In other words, these devices are specifically designed to operate safely in hazardous areas.

Extreme Noise Environments

In the oil and gas industry, extreme noise is not uncommon, as noise levels can reach up to 110 dB(A) or more. This noise exposure can come from various sources, such as drilling, fracking, or pumping operations. These activities are a safety hazard to many of the industry's workers, as exposure to noise levels of 85 dB(A) or above for extended periods of time can put workers at risk of developing noise-induced hearing loss. These repercussions are permanent and irreversible, affecting the quality of life and work productivity of workers.

How can occupational hearing loss be prevented? It's simple - ensure you have proper hearing protection. Sensear is the only manufacturer of double hearing protection headsets with earplugs integrated into the earmuffs, while also incorporating our patented SENS^® Technology for 360° situational awareness and speech enhancement. What is double hearing protection? Double hearing protection (also often referred to as “dual protection”) is exactly what it sounds like: double the amount of hearing protection. This method of hearing protection is achieved when two forms of hearing protection are applied simultaneously. In environments where noise levels exceed 95 dB(A), dual protection that combines the use of earplugs and earmuffs is commonly used. Traditional earplugs with earmuffs can do a great job of blocking out noise in these environments; however, the ability to communicate and react to potential environmental hazards is sacrificed. This is extremely important in oil and gas locations where noise exceeds 100 dB(A) and common hazards make the need for situational awareness and communication crucial for overall employee safety.

Machinery Hazards

Another significant safety issue to be considered is workers being struck by or caught in/between diverse machinery hazards. According to OH&S, 3 out of every 5 on-site fatalities in oil and gas are due to this safety hazard. These issues for operators of the "lifting devices" can be a result of one thing: a lack of situational awareness. Without situational awareness, workers are missing the cues to identify and react to safety hazards, and additionally, as a result, lack effective communication. So, if this is such a prominent issue in the industry, how can it be resolved? This problem is solved with Sensear's SENS^® Technology. Users can hear speech and stay protected while remaining aware of potential hazards. The prominent safety hazards in the oil and gas industry can be reduced when you choose Sensear. At Sensear, we put your safety first. Now it's your turn. Don't isolate your workers, isolate speech with SENS^® Technology.