When it comes to the oil and gas industry, the fatality rate due to onsite injuries and accidents is relatively higher than in other industries worldwide. Those working in the oil and gas fields face various hazards, including products and chemicals that are increasingly corrosive, irritating, and flammable. Employers need to provide their workers with the right personal protective equipment, PPE, or safety workwear to protect them from coming into contact with various chemical risks.
Those working on oil and gas sites need to be supplied with various PPEs, including hearing and eye protection, hand, and foot safety, flame-resistant FR clothing, and more. Business owners and managers need to assess all hazards present in their work environment to provide their staff members with adequate protective gear.
Common work-related risks encountered by workers in the oil and gas sector include exploring drill sites, erecting lease tanks, building well foundations, chemically treating wells, and hydraulically fracturing wells. Common injuries resulting from these dangerous works might include fire, slips and falls, hand and eye injuries, hearing loss, and exposure to chemical vapors, gases, and fumes.
We will now discuss some of the most common PPE types used in the oil and gas industry:
PPE For Your Eyes And Head
According to OSHA requirements, employers need to provide their employees with eye-protective gear if their job descriptions expose them to flying molten metal particles, acidic or caustic vapors, gases, or harmful light radiation. Wearing safety glasses with a side shield can help protect against dangerous flying objects.
Welders can wear specialized filtered helmets to safeguard their eyes from sparks, glare, and flying particles. In the case of flying objects, fixed objects, or overhead electrical hazards, workers must wear head protective gear to provide impact and penetration protection.
PPE For Hands
OSHA recommends using gloves based on the employee's job duties, work environment, and glove materials' performance and construction characteristics. High-quality rubber gloves can help protect workers against certain types of chemical and liquid risks. You can also wear specialty gloves for increased protection against accidents, like heavy vibrations, crushing injuries, and more.
PPE For Feet
The oil and gas workers may step on sharp objects, be exposed to excessive heat or cold, and experience slip, trip, and fall hazards. They can also be exposed to caustic chemicals and acids, electrical hazards, and even molten metal. Such situations require wearing high-quality, insulated safety boots with slip-resistant soles with a firm grip. Welders can also use leather leggings over their shoes to protect them from sparks and molten metal.
PPE For Breathing
A workplace with unsafe atmospheres requires using top-quality respiratory PPE. All workers must undergo medical fitness tests before wearing these protective gear to ensure they’re fit to use a respirator. Finally, all employees must be provided with adequate training in operating and maintaining respirators before using them.
Provide Adequate PPE Training To Your Staff
Always provide your workers with sufficient training on how to use various safety workwear appropriately. This is necessary because all of your staff members must understand their on-field responsibilities to keep themselves and others safe from different oil and gas site-related accidents.
About Work Life Workwear
At Work Life Workwear, we take immense pride in supplying the entire Alberta community with top-quality workwear products and services. Visit our website for more information or contact us for personalized service.
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