Fatalities in Oil & Gas Extraction – FAQ’s

FAQ’s, Resources, and Contact Information

Need help? Below is a list of answers to our most frequently asked questions (FAQ’s), resources to learn more about the oil and gas extraction industry and how to prevent fatalities, and our contact information.

FAQ’s

Can I request FOG data?
For more information about requesting FOG data or a custom report please contact the NIOSH Oil and Gas Program: nioshoilandgas@cdc.gov

When did FOG begin?
Active data collection for FOG began in 2014.

How is the data in FOG different from what is collected by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI)?
FOG is different from BLS CFOI in the following ways:

• The purpose of FOG is to collect detailed and industry-specific information on oil and gas extraction fatalities, while the purpose of CFOI is to collect a census of fatalities for all industries. The case definitions (i.e. inclusion criteria) differ. Therefore, each system will have a different number of fatalities each year.
• Both FOG and CFOI include non-traditional commuting fatalities, but the definition of a non-traditional commute differs slightly between datasets.
• FOG includes all cardiac events where symptoms begin at work, but CFOI does not.

Why does FOG include all cardiac events that begin at work even if there is not a direct work-related cause?
Cardiac events that begin at work are included in FOG because acute exposure to some chemicals or toxic substances can mimic or induce cardiac events. Also, they are included to support the identification and characterization of factors that may influence the occurrence or outcome of these incidents, such as physically demanding work, and working alone and in remote locations.

How is FOG data verified?
Fatalities are reviewed and categorized by at least two NIOSH oil and gas extraction researchers to ensure they meet the inclusion criteria for FOG and are coded correctly. Subject matter experts from the industry are also consulted to ensure complex incidents are accurately described and categorized.

How should I cite the FOG website?
NIOSH (2017). Fatalities in Oil and Gas Extraction (FOG). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Western States Division. <website address> Date accessed._________.

Where can I learn more about NIOSH the NIOSH OGE program and research?
Additional NIOSH OGE program resources are available through the Directory of Oil and Gas Extraction Resources.