The oil and gas industry employs hundreds of thousands of people and is a vital component of the national economy. Worker safety and health are important to this industry. This eTool* identifies common hazards and possible solutions to reduce incidents that could lead to injuries or fatalities.

Each drilling and servicing company has its own safety program. This eTool is not a replacement for those programs nor does it establish any industry consensus standards (industry disclaimer). Rather, it can be used as a resource in identifying workplace hazards and providing possible solutions that may be relevant to their safety programs. This eTool does not purport to identify all hazards and solutions. This eTool focuses on land based operations.

Worker safety awareness is necessary for injury prevention during all phases of drilling and servicing operations. Procedures and processes will include safety meetings, Job Safety Analyses, and general and task-specific training. At the end of each section, resources are identified that provide more details for establishing safe work practices and procedures.

JSA A key element of any effective safety program is the Job Safety Analysis (JSA). This eTool may be useful in preparing JSAs for your worksite.

Additional Industry References

There are numerous references to API, AESC, and IADC publications, industry safety handbooks, safety programs, training facilities and programs, under the heading of "Additional Information," which can provide more complete and detailed information.

See OSHA's Workers' Rights page for more information on rights and protections.

Oil and Gas eTool Industry Disclaimer

Although the etool was developed as a joint project with the industry, it is not to be construed as an industry consensus standard as indicated in the following disclaimer.

"Nothing contained herein shall be construed to establish an industry-accepted standard of drilling or energy servicing safe operating procedures. No suggested method, practice, precaution or program set forth in this guide should be relied upon to establish a legal standard of conduct or a legal duty, the violation of which would constitute culpability of any degree in any legal proceeding.

Information and/or data provided is for informational assistance only and should not be utilized or considered as a comprehensive safety and health program or accepted industry standard."

*eTools are stand-alone, interactive, highly illustrated web-based training tools on occupational safety and health topics. Some use expert system modules, which enable users to answer questions and receive reliable advice on how OSHA regulations apply to their work site. Some provide guidance information for developing a comprehensive safety and health program and include other recommended practices that often go beyond specific OSHA requirements. As indicated in the disclaimer, eTools do not create new OSHA requirements.