Ohio STEPS Network Allies with OSHA, Joins Stand Down
The Nov. 14 national safety stand down is for onshore oil and gas exploration and production operations.
OSHA has entered into an alliance with the Buckeye Service, Transmission, Exploration and Production Safety Network, which is a safety-promoting organization for oil and gas industry professionals in Ohio. The partners will provide participating employers with guidance and access to training resources to address hazards associated with oil and gas exploration and production. This is also the focus of the National Voluntary Stand Down of U.S. Onshore Oil and Gas Exploration and Production, co-sponsored by National STEPS, oil and gas industry groups, and OSHA, which is set for Nov. 14. The Buckeye STEPS Network will participate in it.
"This alliance reflects a mutual recognition of the importance of ensuring workers' safety and health in the growing oil and gas industry," said Deborah Zubaty, OSHA's area director in Columbus. "We are working together to spread awareness and ensure employers have the ability to address issues effectively, such as air contaminants, chemical exposure, vehicle operations, and heat stress, which are the leading causes of injury and illness in this industry."
Both NIOSH and OSHA have called on industry leaders to work harder to prevent fatal injuries among their employees and contract workers. According to preliminary BLS data, the oil and gas extraction industry recorded 138 fatal occupational injuries in 2012, which was a 10-year high, OSHA has reported. From 2003 to 2012, 1,073 workers in this industry have died on the job, according to the agency.
For more information, visit https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/oilgaswelldrilling.