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Occupational exposures in the oil and gas extraction industry: State of the science and research recommendations
Author(s) -
Witter Roxana Z.,
Tenney Liliana,
Clark Suzanne,
Newman Lee S.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.22316
Subject(s) - occupational safety and health , medicine , petroleum industry , environmental health , occupational hygiene , occupational medicine , hazardous waste , occupational injury , poison control , occupational exposure , forensic engineering , injury prevention , waste management , environmental science , engineering , environmental engineering , pathology
The oil and gas extraction industry is rapidly growing due to horizontal drilling and high volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF). This growth has provided new jobs and economic stimulus. The industry occupational fatality rate is 2.5 times higher than the construction industry and 7 times higher than general industry; however injury rates are lower than the construction industry, suggesting injuries are not being reported. Some workers are exposed to crystalline silica at hazardous levels, above occupational health standards. Other hazards (particulate, benzene, noise, radiation) exist. In this article, we review occupational fatality and injury rate data; discuss research looking at root causes of fatal injuries and hazardous exposures; review interventions aimed at improving occupational health and safety; and discuss information gaps and areas of needed research. We also describe Wyoming efforts to improve occupational safety in this industry, as a case example. Am. J. Ind. Med. 57:847–856, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.