UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND ENERGY STUDIES

COLLEGE OF MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMIC STUDIES

HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT FOR PETROLEUM

INDUSTRY
SUBJECT CODE: MBOG 931

OCCUPATIONAL HAZARDS
IN
OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

Sabyasachi Roy
(R020208056)
Pragya Gaur (R020208057)
Pankaj Thapa (R020208058)
Saurabh Saraswat
(R020208059)

Occupational Hazards

Workingconditionthat canleadto chronic illness ordeath

Dangertohealth,
limb,
or
life
that
isinherentin,
or
isassociatedwith,
a
particularoccupation,
industry,
orworkenvironment (e.g., Oil & Gas Industry)

Occupational Health and Safety is a discipline with a

broad scope involving many specialized fields. In its
broadest sense, it should aim at:

the promotion and maintenance of the highest degree of

physical, mental and social well-being of workers in all
occupations;
the prevention among workers of adverse effects on health
caused by their working conditions;
the protection of workers in their employment from risks resulting
from factors adverse to health;

Occupational Hazards

Successful occupational health and safety practice

requires the collaboration and participation of
both employers and workers in health and safety
programmes, and involves the consideration of
issues relating to:

occupational medicine,
industrial hygiene,
toxicology,
education,
engineering safety,
ergonomics,
psychology, etc.

Occupational Health
Hazards

Infections:
Skin and blood infection due to direct contact with waste from infected
wounds
Eye and respiratory infected dust
Disease due to bite of animals feeding on the waste
Intestinal infections transmitted by flies

Chronic

Diseases:

Respiratory diseases
Cancers

Accidents:

Infecting wounds due to sharp objects

Poisoning and chemical burns due to hazardous chemical waste mixed
with general waste
Burns and other injuries due to occupational accidents at disposal sites
Bone and muscle disorders due to handling of heavy containers

Range of Hazards

Unsafe working conditions, such as unguarded machinery,

slippery floors or inadequate fire precautions
A number of categories of insidious hazards (that is, those
hazards that are dangerous but which may not be obvious)
including:
chemical hazards, arising from liquids, solids, dusts, fumes, vapours
and gases;
physical hazards, such as noise, vibration, unsatisfactory lighting,
radiation and extreme temperatures;
biological hazards, such as bacteria, viruses, infectious waste and
infestations;
psychological hazards resulting from stress and strain;
hazards associated with the non-application of ergonomic principles, for
example badly designed machinery, mechanical devices and tools used
by workers, improper seating and workstation design, or poorly designed
work practices.

Occupational Hazards in Oil

and Gas Industry
One of the riskiest industries when it comes to
health and safety of employees ~

Interruptions
in
Fire/Accident

oil

production

caused

by

significant economic losses, and potential hazards to

humans and the environment

Endangered to infectious disease, food borne /

waterborne illness, and wildlife and vector induced
diseases
In case of Oil Refineries exposure to Benzene and
Naturally
Occurring
Radioactive
Material
(NORM) substances that are dangerous to health

Occupational Hazards in Oil and

Gas Industry
contd
Process

chemicals in oil and gas

industry cause occupational hazard
numerous activities within the industry

that include chemical use for various

processes
which
include
drilling,
cementing, completion, stimulation, and
production

Occupational Hazards in Oil and

Gas Industry
contd
Benzene

poses the greatest risk to workers

using
petroleum
solvents
containing
benzene

Benzene poisoning through inhalation of the

vapors evaporating from the solvent and by

absorbing it through the skin by handling
materials soaked with the solvents
Consequences: Rare forms of Leukemia
Although banned in the US, but still used in
some degree in most petroleum solvents in
many of the oil producing nations

Occupational Hazards in Oil and

Gas Industry
contd

Proximity of livestock to drilling operations and

production sites often results in poisoning of
animals from ingestion of crude oil, condensate,
salt water, heavy metals, and caustic chemicals
Heavy metals encountered most frequently are Lead

from Pipe Joint Compound and Arsenicals and

Chromates used as Corrosion Inhibitors
Toxic and Caustic Chemicals are used in Drilling Muds
and Fluids
Crude oil and Salt water Spills are common
occurrences around Production Sites

Consequences...
Ingestion of petroleum hydrocarbons may
result in sudden death from Peracute Bloat.
The most common cause of illness or death
following exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons
is Aspiration Pneumonia

which may cause a chronic progressive deterioration

of health, with death after several days or weeks

Petroleum hydrocarbons, salt water, and

caustic chemicals have the potential of altering
rumen flora as well as damaging the ruminal
and gastrointestinal epithelium

The Health Watch Study

Since 1980, the Australian Institute of Petroleum has

sponsored the development and operation of an
independent epidemiology program called Health
Watch
Started at the University of Melbourne and then
transferred to the Monash Centre for Occupational and
Environmental Health
A University-based Research Program
Studies people who have worked in the Australian petroleum

industry to find out what happens to them in terms of their

health
Has followed about 19,000 past and present employees
Records any occurrence of cancer and, eventually, the cause
of death

Study Findings...

Overall
Petroleum industry employees have better health than the

general Australian community and are less likely to die of the

diseases commonly causing death - including cancer, heart
and respiratory conditions

The Cancer Rate

No different to the average cancer rate for the general

Australian population

Deaths from Cancer

Significantly lower than the average death rates from cancer

for the Australian population

Leukaemia
A cancer of special concern in this industry because of its

association with benzene exposure

Study Findings...
Asbestos-related

Cancers

23 cases of Mesothelioma diagnosed among

Health Watch members, the majority before 2000

Other

Cancers

A higher rate of Melanomas being diagnosed in

workers in the petroleum industry

Other

diseases

Death rates for heart disease, stroke, respiratory

and digestive diseases and other causes (eg.

accidents) are significantly lower than the
comparable Australian rates

Occupational Risk
Management
ORM

is a combination of disciplines
necessary to reduce fatalities and injuries
in any working environment and increase
the productivity, efficiency and quality of
the work output.
The disciplines included in ORM are
Ergonomics,
Health,
Safety

Management

and

Environmental

ORM Model
OSHAS

18001
is
driving
further
awareness to the ORM Model and will be
adopted, forcing companies on a
worldwide basis to incorporate all of the
disciplines contained within this model
Compatible with the ISO 9001 (quality) and

ISO 14001 (environmental) Management

Systems Standards, in order to facilitate the
integration of quality, environmental and
occupational health and safety management

ORM Model
contd

Competition is driving companies to remain

competitive on a worldwide basis.
Implementing Ergonomic Programs as part of ORM

no longer can be ignored

Companies must predict the future costs to society
brought through a lack of ergonomic awareness
displayed by increasing medical costs

In the United States, corporations are spending

over $60 billion annually for compensable
injuries in every type of work environment. This
can be reduced drastically by implementing an
effective ergonomics program

ORM Model
contd

Design of work methodologies, tools and

equipment must include specifications that has
advantages:
Enhance user capabilities and recognize the limitations

humans develop as they age. If not considered,

production, quality and human life will be at risk
Enhance a corporation or public entity by building a
better working environment
Save lives, prevent injuries, establish major cost
benefits resulting in greater profits and better overall
efficiencies, thereby creating an atmosphere of better
business

Occupational Health Related

Procedures
Health Care System
Medical Management of Obnoxious

Substances
Hygiene and Sanitation
First-aid
Health Risk Assessment
Pre-employment and Regular Medical
Checks
Wellness and Fitness Programme for
Employees and Families

Occupational Health and Safety

Management
The Indian Scene

Bureau of Indian Standardshas formulated an

Indian Standard on OH&S Management Systems:
IS

18001:2000
Occupational
Management Systems

Health

and

Safety

Prescribes requirements for an OH&S Management

Systems to enable an organization to formulate a
policy and objectives, taking into account legislative
requirements and information about significant
hazards and risks,
which the organization can control and over which it can

be expected to have an influence, to protect its

employees and others, whose health and safety may be
affected by the activities of the organization.

The Indian Scene

contd
Organizations interested in obtaining License for OH&S
Management System as per IS 18001 should apply on the
prescribed Proforma (Form IV) at the nearest Regional
Office of BIS along with Questionnaire (Form X) and the
prescribed Application Fee
The application shall be signed by the Proprietor or the
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization or any
other person authorised to sign on behalf of the
organization.

The name and designation of the person signing the application

must be recorded legibly in a space set apart for the purpose in
the application form. Each application must be accompanied by
a documented Occupational Health and Safety Management
System Documentation (such as OHS manual etc.)

The Indian Scene

contd

TheDirectorate General of Mines Safety (DGMS)and

theDirectorate General of Factory Advice Service and
Labour Institutes (DGFASLI)are the two field organisations
of the Ministry of Labour and Employment in the area of
Occupational Safety and Health in Mines, Factories and
Ports

The DGFASLI, Mumbai, which is an attached office of the Ministry

of Labour and Employment, functions as a technical arm of the
Ministry in regard to matters concerned with safety, health and
welfare of workers in factories and ports/docks.

DGMS is the Indian Government Regulatory agency for safety in

mines and oil-fields. Its is to continually improve safety and
health standards, practices and performance in the mining
industry and upstream petroleum industry.

Major Legislations relating to

Occupational Health and
Safety in India

The Factories Act,1948

It

regulates health, safety, welfare and other working

conditions of workers in factories.

It is enforced by the State Governments through their

factory inspectorates. The Directorate General Factory

Advice Service & Labour Institutes (DGFASLI) co-ordinates
matters concerning safety, health and welfare of workers in
the factories with the State Governments.
DGFASLI conducts training, studies and surveys on various

aspects relating to safety and health of workers through the

Central Labour Institute in Mumbai and three other Regional
Labour Institutes located at Calcutta, Chennai and Kanpur.

Major Legislations relating to

Occupational Health and
Safety in India

Mines Act, 1952

It contains provisions for measures relating to the health, safety and welfare of
workers in the coal, metalliferous and oil mines.

The Mines Act, 1952, prescribed duties of the owner (defined as the proprietor,
lessee or an agent) to manage mines and mining operation and the health and
safety in mines. It also prescribes the number of working hours in mines, the
minimum wage rates, and other related matters.

Directorate General of Mines Safety conducts inspections and inquiries, issues

competency tests for the purpose of appointment to various posts in the
mines, organises seminars/conferences on various aspects of safety of workers.

Courts of Inquiry are set up by the Central Government to investigate into the
accidents, which result in the death of 10 or above miners. Both penal and
pecuniary punishments are prescribed for contravention of obligation and
duties under the Act.

Major Legislations relating to

Occupational Health and
Safety in India

Dock Workers (Safety, Health & Welfare) Act, 1986

It contains provisions for the health, safety and welfare of

workers working in ports/docks.

It is administered by Director General Factory Advice Service

and Labour Institutes, Directorate General FASLI as the Chief

Inspector there are inspectorates of dock safety at 10 major
ports in India viz. Calcutta, Mumbai, Chennai, Visakhapatnam,
Paradip, Kandla, Mormugao, Tuticorin, Cochin and New
Mangalore
overall emphasis in the activities of the inspectorates is to

contain the accident rates and the number of accidents at the

ports.

Major Legislations relating to

Occupational Health and
Safety in India

National Policy on Safety, Health and Environment at work place:

Continuous reduction in the incidence of work related injuries, fatalities,

diseases, disaster and loss of national assets.

Continuous reduction in the cost of work place injuries and diseases.

Extend coverage of work related injuries, fatalities, and diseases for a

more comprehensive data base as a means of better performance and
monitoring.

Continuous enhancement of community awareness regarding safety,

health and environment at workplace related areas.

Enhance the well-being of the employee and society at large.

THANK YOU