There are few working environments less naturally hospitable for human life than the oil rig. A typical oil rig might rise 40 stories from the ocean, which places it directly in the way of some truly fearsome weather conditions.
Like many of the other entries on this list, this is a safety issue — one that requires constant attention to conditions as they change. Speaking more up close and personal, it also requires that you remain prepared on a personal level with things like clothing choices.
Know what you’re in for ahead of time and allot your admittedly limited personal space accordingly.
Heat Risks:
Oilfield workers and the risk of heat stroke
Working in an oilfield puts workers at risk of heat stroke, especially during the hot summer days in Texas. According to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration, workers performing their job duties in direct sun under hot conditions, such as found in many oil and gas well operations, are at a higher risk than other workers for experiencing heat stroke.
The most severe heat-related illness is heat stroke, but workers might also experience less severe problems such as cramps or rashes. When the heat index is 91 degrees or higher, the risk of workers developing this condition grows. Other contributing factors include:
Performing hard physical labor
Wearing protective clothing, which is often non-breathable
Working near heat sources or hot objects
Not having acclimated to higher temperatures
No movement of air
Increased humidity
In situations where there is heat stress, dehydration and death can occur when the body's internal temperature rises. Excessive heat reduces a person's ability to cool down through sweat and other natural cooling methods. In the early stages of heat stress, a person might become irritable or start to have difficulty concentrating, which could put him or her at an increased risk of injury from an accident.
Pirates Attack:
Pirates attack Gulf of Mexico oil rig, lock up crew and loot the contents
Pirates attacked and plundered an oil rig last Sunday in the Gulf of Mexico, locking up the crew while they looked for loot.
Witnesses said at least six men armed with guns and knives boarded the rig at 9:30pm and proceeded directly to the third floor to wake up the crew. After locking up workers in the cafeteria, the thieves wandered freely, looting equipment, materials, money and anything of value they could carry.
The pirates departed at 4:00 am on Monday, when the rig’s captain sent an emergency alert to authorities. The navy responded 4 1/2 hours later. The crew and company lawyers have spent this week in interviews and taking inventory of damaged or stolen items, which have still not been fully identified.
SEAFOX MANAGER:
about 6 months ago, The pirate robbed the SEAFOX ship , a lots of things were stolen,including, cash, documents, credit cards, oil barrels, equipment and more, everyone of us in the SEAFOX RIG had a great lost at that robbery but we were glad that no lives was lost, though some was hurt.
Our ship is somehow protected now because we have lots of security at the moment securing us..
Risk of Fire:
Fire is something of a worst-case scenario aboard oil rigs. Given the remote nature of the work and the distance to the nearest rescue and medical facilities, fires at sea can quickly grow out of hand and cost lives.
If you’re an industry insider yourself, you know the risk of fires is not taken lightly in any oil company’s culture. One thing they’re all likely to stress is that safety — including fire safety — begins with individuals and with small daily decisions.
Of course, accidents happen. Blowouts are a real threat and not always something you can account for. Given this and the other variety of risks aboard oil rigs, it makes good sense to continually familiarize yourself with emergency procedures. You need to fully understand what’s expected of you, in your position, when an emergency occurs
High Risk on the Rig
The primary objective is to eliminate hand exposure to pinch points, crush zones, and impact hazards.
"Nobody Gets Hurt" is a slogan many oil and gas safety managers are striving to make a reality. Truth is, oil and gas drilling operations expose rig workers' hands to numerous on-site hazards that range from blunt force impact, crush, and pinching injuries to severe abrasions and lacerations to the hand.
Historically, hand injuries make up nearly 50 percent of incidents in the oil and gas industry. Furthermore, a great number of those injuries are "struck by" incidents, which contribute the most to claims, costs, and work days lost. Today, personal protective equipment is the worker's last line of defense—or, in other words, the last chance to prevent injury on site. Major oil and gas drilling companies already are adopting hand protection guidelines in an effort to reduce employee and contractor hand injuries. The old cotton glove days are over, and high-performance task-specific hand protection is required in this growing industry.
