Remaining OSHA compliant is the best way for a company to protect its workforce, avoid unnecessary costs, improve output, and build a strong reputation in the oil and gas industry. Oil and gas safety is a proven way to save money and time for a company as well.
What OSHA Compliance Means to Your Oil and Gas Company
The first step for a company to make sure it is Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) compliant is to know what it means. OSHA compliance means you follow all regulations developed by OSHA to ensure worker and workplace safety in the oil and gas industry. Employers must follow a list of specific OSHA standards to keep job sites safe and reduce the number of injuries and illnesses to workers, including:
- Supply workers with personal protective equipment that fits properly and offers protection to appropriate standards at no cost to workers
- Alert workers of potentially hazardous areas using color codes, labels, posters, and signage
- Prominently display OSHA posters in the workplace for workers’ understanding of their rights
- Have tools and equipment in the facility that are safe and adequately maintained
- Act to remedy any violations found by a compliance officer following a worksite inspection and citations must be posted at or near areas found to be in violation
- Provide OSHA oil and gas training to workers in a language they understand
- Communicate requirements of established operating procedures
OSHA Compliance Areas of Concern for Oil and Gas Safety
All industries have safety issues that are more pertinent to their field than others. Employers and workers employed in the gas and oil industry should follow specific OSHA standards to avoid:
- Vehicle accidents
- Fires and explosions
- Falls
- Exposure to chemicals
- Confined spaces
How Does a Company Benefit From OSHA Compliance?
Workplace safety has a wide range of benefits, none more important than workers’ health and safety. When job sites follow OSHA regulations, workplace injuries decrease. Workplace illnesses, injuries, and fatalities in the oil and gas field don’t just cause hardships that cannot be quantified fully—they cost employers billions of dollars every year.
When a company chooses to comply with OSHA oil and gas safety standards, it’s proven to significantly reduce the accident rate on worksites and increase health and safety. Along with a healthy workforce and cost savings, OSHA-compliant companies enjoy many other benefits, such as:
Reduced number of worker complaints, failed inspections, and fines for lack of compliance
A strong reputation among jobseekers, businesses you may partner with, and potential clients
Increased productivity, higher quality performance, reduced turnover, and heightened worker satisfaction
Costs of Not Being in OSHA Compliance
The penalties for not following OSHA regulations and workplace safety can be serious. OSHA has six different types of violations that vary in severity, and the more out of compliance a worksite is, the higher fines they face. Some OSHA violations can result in imprisonment. Even more costly than fines are legal bills incurred by companies facing workers’ compensation lawsuits and estates seeking damages for an injured or killed worker. Insurers may charge higher prices or even consider you uninsurable.
Making Sure You Are in OSHA Compliance
OSHA offers many compliance assistance services to help you comply with OSHA oil and gas safety regulations and prevent workplace incidents. Taking the time to make your workplace as safe as possible helps you avoid human loss disasters, costly litigation, sunken costs to fines, and uphold a respected reputation in your community. OSHA oil and gas training methods are available to companies looking to take a proactive approach.
OSHA Compliance and Insurance Needs
The oil and gas industry is complex and multifaceted, meaning you need a strategic partner for your specific insurance needs. InSource Insurance Group’s expert agents specialize in covering the oil and gas field to make sure your OSHA compliance results in competitive insurance rates. Ready to evaluate your business’s insurance needs? Contact an agent at InSource Insurance Group today.
