Vehicle Collision Hazards

Transportation incidents, especially vehicle collisions, are the leading cause of worker fatalities in the oil and gas extraction industry. Highway vehicle collisions account for four of every 10 fatalities in this industry. In the past decade, the industry's dependence upon transportation has grown. For example, the hydraulic fracturing process requires a continuous supply of water to be trucked in, sometimes from great distances. The risk that workers are injured or killed from vehicle collisions is compounded by the fatigue caused by irregular and long work shifts. For example, 12-hour shifts for 7 to 14 days are not uncommon in this industry. An exhausted driver is less alert and prone to accidents. Additionally, often an operation's fleet of trucks are worn out from the rough roads and around-the-clock use of vehicles. Often situated in remote areas, many of the roads lack safety features such as divided lanes, guard rails, or rumble strips (raised strips across a road that change the sound from the vehicle's tires and warn drivers that they may be driving too fast or veering off the road). Clearly, employers must make a concerted effort to further protect their workers from the dangers of vehicle collisions.

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