Professionals that accept jobs in the offshore oil and gas industry often receive very competitive wages and excellent benefits in return for their labor. The long shifts away from home, possibly lasting many weeks at a time, and the increased risk of job injuries when compared with those in other professions are among the reasons that oil and gas workers receive more competitive wages.
There are risks around every corner on an oil rig, and workers have to be aware of heavy machinery, chemical exposure and the ongoing possibility of fire or an explosion. With all of those very dramatic and noteworthy job risks, it might be easy for offshore workers who ignore the biggest safety risk for their profession.
Transportation is where there’s the most risk
Those who work in an offshore setting may need to take a boat to get to work, or they may travel on a helicopter or a small charter plane to and from offshore oil and gas platforms. All of these options come with some degree of risk.
In fact, more than half of all offshore worker fatalities reviewed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention involved a transportation incident of some type. Simply getting to and from an offshore oil platform is when a worker has the most risk of unexpectedly dying because of their job. Although transportation is a major safety concern, workers also need to be cautious when on the oil rig, as a few mistakes or missed steps may be all it takes for someone to end up severely injured or dead.
Identifying and mitigating the top safety concerns for offshore oil and gas workers can help employees stay a bit safer in their high-risk professions.