Page 18 - OHS, July/August 2024

OIL & GAS
Head Injuries in Oil and Gas Industries: A Growing Impact
The prevalence and impact of head injuries in the oil and gas industry requires robust
safety protocols and innovations in PPE to adequately safeguard vulnerable workers
from severe risks.
BY SUSAN SILVER
Oil and gas industries are among the most hazardous sectors in the US, with a high rate of fatal and nonfatal injuries. According to the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, the oil and gas ex- traction industry had a fatality rate of 14.1 per 100,000 workers in 2019, more than five times higher than the average for all industries.
One of the most common and serious types of injuries in this sector is head in- juries, which can result from falls, struck- by objects, explosions, fires, or exposure to toxic substances. Head injuries can have devastating consequences for workers and their families, affecting their physical, cog- nitive, emotional, and social functioning. In this article, we will explore the causes, effects, and trends of head injuries in oil and gas industries and provide some rec- ommendations for prevention and safety.
Causes and Effects
of Head Injuries in Oil & Gas
Head injuries can occur in various ways in oil and gas industries, depending on the nature of the work, the environment, and the equipment. Some of the common causes of head injuries are:
■ Falls from heights, such as ladders, scaffolds, platforms, or roofs.
■ Struck-by objects, such as pipes, tools, equipment, or vehicles.
■ Explosions or fires, which can cause blunt force trauma, burns, or shrapnel wounds.
■ Exposure to toxic substances, such as hydrogen sulfide, which can cause respira- tory distress, loss of consciousness, or brain damage.
Head injuries can range from mild to se- vere, depending on the location, extent, and duration of the impact or exposure. Some of the common effects of head injuries are:
■ Concussion, which is a mild trau- matic brain injury that can cause head- aches, dizziness, nausea, confusion, mem- ory loss, or mood changes.
■ Skull fracture, which is a break in the bone that surrounds the brain, and can cause bleeding, swelling, or infection.
■ Brain contusion, which is a bruise on the brain tissue, and can cause seizures, coma, or permanent damage.
■ Brain hemorrhage, which is bleeding in or around the brain, and can cause in- creased pressure, stroke, or death.
■ Diffuse axonal injury, which is dam- age to the nerve fibers that connect different parts of the brain, and can cause cognitive impairment, motor dysfunction, or coma.
Trends and Statistics of Head Injuries
Head injuries are a significant and growing problem in oil and gas industries, especially in the recent years of increased production and activity. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which publishes annual data on occupational injuries and illnesses by industry and type of event, in 2019, there were 14 fatal injuries and 1,140 nonfatal injuries involving head injuries in the oil and gas extraction industry.
This means that head injuries account- ed for 8.6 percent of all fatal injuries and 4.2 percent of all nonfatal injuries in this industry in 2019. The most common causes of fatal head injuries were struck-by objects (44 percent), falls (28 percent), and explo- sions or fires (17 percent), while the most common causes of nonfatal head injuries were struck-by objects (51 percent), falls (24 percent), and exposure to harmful sub- stances (10 percent).
Recent studies also highlight the high incidence of severe injuries among con- tract workers in the oil and gas industry. Between January 2015 and July 2022, over 2,100 severe work-related injuries were re- ported, with more than 93 percent involv- ing contractors. Common injuries in this sector include amputations, fractures, trau- matic brain injuries, and burns. These inju- ries primarily affected those in well drilling and support activities, who often face high- hazard jobs with inconsistent training and minimal safety nets.
Head injuries were more likely to occur among workers who were:
■ Younger than 35 years old.
■ Employed by contractors or subcon- tractors.
■ Working in drilling or well servicing operations.
■ Working in Texas, Oklahoma, or North Dakota.
16 Occupational Health & Safety | JULY/AUGUST 2024
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