Overview

Over 450,000 workers were employed in the oil and gas extraction and support industries in 2011 (Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages). These workers are engaged in many different industrial processes needed to successfully drill and service a well. These processes frequently require the use of specialized equipment and specialized work crews.

From 2013 to 2017, 489 oil and gas extraction workers were killed on the job (Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries). Safety and health hazards and dangerous conditions that can result in fatalities for oil and gas workers include:

• Vehicle Accidents
• Struck-By/ Caught-In/ Caught-Between
• Explosions and Fires
• Falls
• Confined Spaces
• Chemical Exposures

The information and resources provided on this web page can help workers and employers identify and eliminate hazards in their workplace. The web page introduces applicable OSHA regulatory requirements, as well as industry standards and guidance aimed at identifying, preventing, and controlling exposure to hazards.

Employers must protect the safety and health of workers involved in oil and gas operations according to:

• OSHA's General Industry Standards (29 CFR 1910)
• OSHA's Construction Standards (29 CFR 1926)
• General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act

Five OSHA regions located in areas of significant upstream activities use national, regional, and local emphasis programs to inspect oilfield worksites:

• Region III
• Region VI
• Region VII
• Region VIII
• Region X