High-Pressure Lines and Compressed Gas & Air Equipment Hazards

During a variety of operations in the oil and gas extraction industry, workers often perform their tasks in the vicinity of high-pressure lines and containers and tanks that hold compressed gas. At any moment, worn equipment may leak or burst and expose workers to hazardous substances or displace the oxygen in the work area. Furthermore, during such incidents, pieces of equipment may break free and strike workers causing injury and even death. To summarize, incidents involving high-pressure lines and compressed gases may include the following hazards:

• Toxic gas releases
• Oxygen displacement that leads to oxygen deficiency. The oxygen in the work area is reduced or displaced by other gases. Injury and death may be caused by asphyxiation due to oxygen depletion. Oxygen deficiency is a common hazard in the oil and gas extraction industry.
• Explosions and fires
• Struck-by hazards. Injuries that are caused by flying debris.

An aging and worn infrastructure increases the risk of accidents. The potential for these hazards to occur is further compounded when employers fail to regularly monitor their facilities to verify that their equipment is in satisfactory working condition. For example, a leaking pressure vessel may cause a fire or lead to poisonings or suffocation.

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