Respiratory Hazards - Policies & Procedures

OSHA and NIOSH recommend a combination of approaches to protect oil and gas extraction workers from the dangers of exposure to hazardous substances. The first step toward reducing worker exposure involves monitoring the work environment and specific tasks to determine the sources and levels of hazardous exposure, such as respirable silica dust. Employers should seek expert help from an occupational safety and health professional. OSHA offers a free on-site consultation service. If the level of exposure to a hazardous substance exceeds the PEL set by OSHA, then employers are required to take actions to limit worker exposure. However, both OSHA and NIOSH recommend that employers voluntarily meet the more stringent requirements of the Recommended Exposure Limit (REL) established by NIOSH. Since the REL is based upon more current exposure data, this approach ensures a greater level of worker protection.

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