Challenges in Implementing Vehicle Safety Measures

One of the challenges employers face when they attempt to implement preventative measures, such as seat belt use, is the attitude of the workers and the culture of the work environment. Canadian researchers found that risk-taking was a fundamental characteristic of the oil and gas extraction workers in their study. These workers tended to wear a seat belt only when they deemed it necessary, such as during bad weather. The potentially dangerous outcome of this type of decision-making is made clear through another motor vehicle study. In this study, half of the workers who died were presumed or proven to not have been wearing a seat belt. To address this problem, employers may consider conducting attitude tests prior to making hiring decisions. These tests can help employers to identify people who tend to be risk-takers prior to making a commitment to hire them.

Another challenge when it comes to implementing more effective vehicle safety measures is the current growth of the oil and gas extraction industry. The high costs of rigs and crews pressure employers to extract oil and gas as quickly as possible. Safety measures and worker training may not be given the attention they require to adequately protect workers.

To learn more about Oil & Gas Extraction visit our Oil & Gas Extraction Safety Online Training web page.