Chemical Hazards

Oil and gas extraction workers are exposed to a wide variety of chemicals in the course of their work. In addition to the chemical hazards that we have discussed in other sections of this course, such as silica and hydrogen sulfide, workers in the oil and gas extraction industry are exposed to the following chemicals:

• Hydrocarbons and other volatile organic compounds, such as benzene
• Chemical additives in fracturing fluid (usually fracturing fluid also contains water and proppant, typically sand). These chemical additives include the following:
  • Gels
  • Biocides, such as aldehydes (used to kill bacteria)
  • Potassium chloride
  • Acids and bases (used to adjust the pH)
  • Scale inhibitors
  • Surfactants (chemicals that are used to break the surface tension of a liquid)
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs, which are chemicals that are released when organic substances, such as oil and gasoline, are burned)
• Metals, such as lead

OSHA and other government agencies have established additional standards and guidelines for exposure to specific chemicals, such as benzene. We will now look at the chemical hazard of benzene exposure.

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