6 Accidents That Can Happen at Oil Rigs


Oil rigs, onshore and offshore, are some of the most hazardous workplaces on Earth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that workers at oil rigs have a higher risk of injuries than workers in any other industry. Here are some of the common hazards that make oil rigs incredibly dangerous.


Fire

There is a high likelihood of fires and explosions occurring at oil rigs due to flammable gases and vapours. The rig machinery—trucks, wells, production, and drilling equipment, can release these gases. The oil itself is highly flammable, and contact with other chemicals or ignition sources (frictional heat, open flames, cigarettes, etc.) can lead to an outbreak of deadly fires.

Falls

Oil rigs have towers and platforms of varying heights with workers working on elevated platforms as high as 9 metres. Derrick hands are most at risk of falls as they work on platforms even higher.

The platforms have open edges offering no protection in case of an accident. This increases the chances of falls, which can prove fatal. According to the CDC, fatalities from falls increased in 2003-2013, while all other causes of death on rigs declined.


Falling Tools

Employees are also at considerable risk of injury from tools falling from higher platforms. Three of the five on-site fatalities are caused by caught-in or struck-by hazards. These include moving vehicles or equipment, falling tools, etc.  

Proper handling of tools can ward off these risks significantly. Employees are also required to wear hard hats and avoid standing under suspended platforms and heavy loads. These safety measures can reduce injuries and deaths from falling tools.

Heavy Machinery

Oil rigs are dominated by heavy machinery. The drill, spinning machinery, cranes, and forklifts are commonplace and can be dangerous for the workers. The very weight of the machines and the loads they carry pose significant threats.

Additionally, the machines are incredibly loud and noisy, making it harder for people to communicate or warn their colleagues of danger. Moving machinery contributes to some of the deadliest injuries at these rigs.

Fatigue

Oil rig workers have strenuous jobs and work up to 12-hour days for 7-14 days consecutively. The demanding jobs often lead to fatigue and exhaustion, which contributes to accidents on the job.

When the workers are tired, their response times slow down. In the case of an accident or an emergency, they cannot react reflectively and quickly, making injuries and fatalities common.

Not only on the oil rig, but fatigue can also get these workers into accidents off the oil rig. There are highway accident reports of overworked oil rig workers who fall asleep on the wheel while driving home and encounter motor vehicle accidents.

The increased use of safety equipment and technology has led to a decrease in deadly accidents and made oil rigs relatively safer. Contact instruments Ltd. is dedicated to oil rig workers' safety and supplies high-tech drilling rig instrumentation and weight indicator systems to companies worldwide. Connect with them for superior, modified solutions for better safety at your drilling sites. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Avoid OSHA Violations at Your Drilling Rig

Image
  The health and safety of workers in the oil and gas mining industry are major concerns. Exposure to hazards, extreme work environments, and accidents while operating heavy machinery means that oil/gas industry employees are at a higher risk of injuries and fatalities. As a result, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ) has outlined certain precautions that help prevent accidents and keep your employees and worksite safe. Significant focus has been put on inspecting oilfield worksites, so you want to be prepared for any unexpected visits at your facility at all times. Staying prepared means that not only do you get to avoid fines and citations , but you also keep your workers protected. Let’s take a look at the top three violations on OSHA’s list, as well as the steps you can take to prevent them. 1. Inadequate Fall Prevention According to the National Safety Council, falls are among the most common hazards in the workplace, leading to approximately 50,000 severe i
Read more

What Is Overmolding And Why Is It Important?

Image
Overmolding is done through a process of injection molding in which two or more different materials are used to combine wires and make them into a singular component. To better understanding overmolding , it’s important to have a thorough understanding of how it works.   1.       The cable assembly is placed inside a mold 2.       Molten plastic material is poured into the cavity of the mold 3.       Once cooled, the plastic material solidifies into the shape of the mold and covers the junction point between the wire and its connector The Many Benefits Of Overmolded Cable So, why do people go through the trouble of combining wires into single components? The biggest advantage of doing so is increasing the longevity and reliability of cables and their components. ·          Better Flexibility With overmolding, the flexibility at the cable exit is strengthened. You might subject the cable to more pulling and strain near its connector, and with the help overmolding, there
Read more

What You Need To Know About Mud Pumps

Image
 If you're like most people, you've probably had a tough time finding the right mud pump with all the options available in the market This article will highlight some important things you should know before buying mud pumps. What Are Mud Pumps? Mud pumps are a machine with a vacuum that is used to pull water from low-lying areas and into the sewage system. The units are usually powered by electricity, but they can also be operated on gas or steam. They work by using air pressure to exert force on water, which then forms a stream in the pump hose. Once this stream is formed, it pushes the water through an intermediate chamber and out of one or two outlets before circulating back into the input chamber for re-injection. At this point, most mud pumps will have another outlet from which they can utilize the output flow downstream for agricultural purposes such as irrigation or crop flows. What Are They Used for? Mud pumps are usually used in municipal wastewater plants
Read more