How To Reduce Slip, Trip, and Fall Hazards in the Oil and Gas Industry

Preventing slip, trip, and fall injuries begins with the proper safety equipment.

• Slip-resistant footwear: All workers should wear slip-resistant footwear to prevent falls. While shoes can’t stop all falls, they can reduce slipping injuries during rainy or snowy weather and keep workers safe when there’s a leak.
• Personal protective equipment (PPE), like hard hats and eye protection: If workers slip and fall, PPE can prevent injuries from becoming significant. Hard hats can shield workers from serious head injuries, and safety glasses protect the face and eyes during a fall.
• Fall arrest systems: When oil and gas workers climb stairs and ladders and work on elevated surfaces, they should use personal fall prevention systems. These systems include a full-body harness and a self-retracting lanyard that attaches to an anchor point. During a fall, the self-retracting lanyard immediately stops letting out slack, which keeps workers suspended until another person can rescue them.
• Non-slip mats and grating: In addition to keeping working areas free from tripping hazards, you should place non-slip mats and grating in areas that tend to get wet or slippery. However, these measures work best when you regularly remove excess liquid from walking surfaces, so maintenance is crucial.
• Guardrails: In any area where a slip or trip is possible, oil and gas businesses should install guardrails to prevent falls.
  Signage: If there are any areas on the oil rig with large holes or fall hazards that are difficult to see, you should place signage alerting employees.