NIOSH Program Portfolio

Oil and Gas Extraction

Inputs: Occupational Safety and Health Risks

Fatalities

The oil and gas extraction (O&G) industry has an annual occupational fatality rate of 30.0 per 100,000 workers (2003-2007) - approximately eight times higher than the rate for all U.S. workers. This is the largest subsector of the Mining Sector employing approximately 428,000 workers in 2007. The annual occupational fatality rate in this industry varied by as much as 100% during 1993-2007. This variation is correlated with the level of drilling activity in the industry (Figure 2). Fatality rates are higher when there is an increased number of active drilling and workover rigs. This is hypothesized to be a result of an increase in the proportion of inexperienced workers, longer working hours (more overtime), and the utilization of all available rigs (older equipment with fewer safeguards).

Although fatal injuries to these workers were identified as a pressing issue more than a decade ago, recent data show that the problem continues. For example, from 2003 to 2007 (Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries) the number of fatalities to O&G workers increased by 41% (85 to 120; 2007 data preliminary). Of the 526 fatalities that occurred during 2003- 2007, the majority were either highway motor vehicle crashes (29%) or workers being struck by tools or equipment (21%). The next most common fatal events were explosions (8%), workers caught or compressed in moving machinery or tools (8%), and falls to lower levels (7%).

Figure 2: Annual Occupational Fatality Rate among Oil and Gas Workers and Number of Active Oil and Gas Rigs, 1993-2007

Note: The break in the fatality rate line indicates the industry definition change which occurred in 2003.

Sources: Fatalities – Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (1993-2002 Standard Industry Classification 13; 2003-2006 North American Industrial Classification System 211, 213111, 213112); Employment – Bureau of Labor Statistics (1993-2002 Current Population Survey; 2003-2007 Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages), Rig Count – Baker Hughes Inc. (1993-2007 Sum of annual average for Active Rotary Rigs for the United States). Well Service Rig Count- Weatherford/AESC (1993-2007 Sum of annual average).

Nonfatal Injuries

Most segments of oil and gas extraction report a lower nonfatal injury rate than the average for all private industry. In 2006 the estimated rate of nonfatal work-related injuries in oil and gas extraction (NAICS 211) was 2.0 per 100 full-time workers, 3.0 for workers in support activities for oil and gas extraction (NAICS 213112), but 5.4 for drilling oil and gas wells (NAICS 213111). The annual rate for all private industries during the same year was 4.2 nonfatal injuries per 100 full-time workers.

Sources

Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, BLS, Department of Labor
External link: http://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm

Current Population Survey, BLS, Department of Labor
External link: http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, BLS, Department of Labor
External link: http://www.bls.gov/cew/#data

Baker-Hughes North American Rig Count
External link: http://investor.shareholder.com/bhi/rig_counts/rc_index.cfm

Injury, Illness and Fatality Program, BLS , Department of Labor
External link: http://www.c-a-m.com/content/dps/drl/rigcount

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NIOSH Program:

Oil and Gas Extraction

Program Description
Inputs
• Sector Description
• Economic Factors
• Occupational Risks
• National Research Agenda (NORA)
• NIOSH Strategic Goals
• Emerging Issues
• Partners
• NIOSH Contacts
Activities
• NIOSH Research Projects
Outputs
• Publications
• Topic Pages
• Products
• Research to Practice