NORA Oil and Gas Sector Council,Fatality Trends and Database, NIOSH Oil and Gas Field Research, US/EU Joint Conference on OSH, 2015

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Kyla Retzer, MPHNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

• Part of the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

• Research-focused

• Generate new knowledge

• Work with partners – research 2 practice

National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH)

June 8, 2015

www.cdc.gov/niosh/nora/councils/oilgas

A national partnership effort to define andconduct priority occupational safety and health research

National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) Oil & Gas Extraction Sector Council

NORA Oil & Gas Extraction Council Members

Operators

Drilling Contractors

Well Servicing CompaniesOil and Gas

Extraction Industry

The U.S. Oil and Gas Extraction Industry

June 8, 2015

Industry Growth

2003

20132003

Well Servicing Companies

Oil and Gas Operators

Drilling Contractors

92% Increase

62% Increase

245% Increase

2003 2013

The oil and gas workforce doubled and the number of drilling rigs increased 71% from 2003-2013.

120,536 workers

296,891workers

2013

48,596 workers

121,124 workers

196,732 workers

93,261 workers

June 8, 2015

Methods

x =

Rate Calculation

Statistical Test

Negative Binomial

over time

100,000

BLS CFOI Number of Fatalities (NAICS: 211, 213111, 213112)

BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (Not Full Time Equivalent [FTE])

per 100,000Workers

Fatality

Difference in

June 8, 2015

Rate

Regression Rates

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

85

98 98

125 122

120

68

107

112

142

112

Fatalities Rate

Deat

hs p

er 1

00,0

00 w

orke

rs

Num

ber o

f Dea

ths

Number and Rate of Fatal Work InjuriesU.S. Oil & Gas Extraction Industry, 2003-2013

Note: Fatality counts from BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Worker Estimates from BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (2013). Rate per 100,000 workers per year. Includes NAICS 211, 213111, 213112. *Data for 2013 are preliminary.

N=1,189

June 8, 2015

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

0

25

50

75

100

125

150

85

98 98

125 122

120

68

107

112

142

112

Fatalities Rate

Deat

hs p

er 1

00,0

00 w

orke

rs

Num

ber o

f Dea

ths

Number and Rate of Fatal Work InjuriesU.S. Oil & Gas Extraction Industry, 2003-2013

Note: Fatality counts from BLS Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Worker Estimates from BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (2013). Rate per 100,000 workers per year. Includes NAICS 211, 213111, 213112. *Data for 2013 are preliminary.

N=1,185

FatalityRate

FatalitiesWeekperIndustry

2

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20130

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Fata

lity

Rate

per

100

,000

Trends in Fatality Rate by Company Type, 2003-2013

Well Servicing CompaniesOil and Gas Operators Drilling Contractors

Stati sti cally Signifi cant

58%Fa

taliti

es

Not Statistically Significant

27%

Fata

lities

Stati sti cally Signifi cant

33%

Fata

lities

June 8, 2015

Fata

lities

Possible Reasons for Improvement

• Development of STEPS Networks.

• Creation of transportation safety groups (e.g. Appalachian Shale Transportation Group).

• Development of the NIOSH NORA Oil and Gas Council.

• The OSHA Oil and Gas Safety and Health Conference.

• New ALLIANCE between STEPS/OSHA/NIOSH.

NIOSH exhibit - OSHA Oil and Gas Safety and Health Conference. OSHA, STEPS, NIOSH Alliance signing event, Dec 2014.

June 8, 2015

FOGNIOSH/NORA Fatalities in Oil and Gas Database

• Detailed information fatalities in the U.S.

• Includes: all fatal events to U.S. land-based and offshore oil and gas extraction workers, irrespective of NAICS codes.

• Excludes: midstream, downstream, non-fatal injuries

• Data Sources: OSHA, crash reports, media, etc.

• Limitations: off-site motor vehicle events

Fatalities in Oil and Gas (FOG) database

35Variables per Incident Operation Working Alone Equipment Type Basin Fatigue Related

Weather Related Well Site Location

Variables per Worker Race Occupation Years in Oilfield Contractor Task

21

June 8, 2015

• 9 worker deaths, 2010-2014 (6)

• Open production tank hatches, 5 thieving, 4 gauging

• North Dakota (3), Colorado (3), Oklahoma (1), Texas (1), and Montana (1).

• Associated with hydrocarbon gases and vapors (no H2S)

Using FOG to identify trends

Hazard Alert

• Currently undergoing review.

• In 2014, 6 incidents that resulted in 6 worker deaths.

• More incidents than were seen since 2005.

• The majority of events 2005-2014 (62%) involved hot-work/welding.

• Majority are off-site.

Land-Based Fire/Explosion Fatal Events Involving Tank Vapors (FOG)

FOG Outputs

NIOSH Field WorkOil and Gas Exposure Assessments

• 11 sites, 5 states • Winter, spring,

summer• Elevation: 300 –

5,000 ft.• Silica sand, resin

coated and ceramic

NIOSH Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) during Hydraulic Fracturing

Field Study, 2010-2011

Site >ACGIH TLV >NIOSH REL >OSHA PEL Total # Samples

A 24 (92.3%) 19 (73.1%) 14 (53.9%) 26

B 16 (84.2%) 14 (73.7%) 12 (63.2%) 19

C 5 (62.5%) 5 (62.5%) 4 (50.0%) 8

D 19 (90.5%) 14 (66.7%) 9 (42.9%) 21

E 25 (92.6%) 23 (85.2%) 18 (66.7%) 27

F 4 (40.0%) 1 (10.0%) 0 10

Total 93 (83.8%) 76 (68.5%) 57 (51.4%) 111

1Esswein, Breitenstein, Snawder, et. al., Occupational Exposure to Respirable Crystalline Silica in Hydraulic Fracturing. JOEH Vol. 10. Issue 7. May 2013

RCS Exposures at Hydraulic Fracturing Sites can Exceed OELs1

Point Sources of Respirable Crystalline Silica Release

• First study to identify RCS hazard during hydraulic fracturing

• JOEH article most downloaded of 2013

• Industry formed RCS Workgroup

• New, improved controls implemented

Impact of NIOSH RCS Study

Worker Exposures to Volatile Organic Compounds During Flowback Operations: Initial Evaluations

• Exposure to very high concentrations of VOCs in hydrocarbon products may occur when hatches are opened

• PBZ measurements identified benzene as a potential VOC exposure hazard

• None of the 35 PBZ samples exceeded OSHA benzene PEL

• Some samples exceeded NIOSH REL and STEL for benzene

• Flammable/explosive hazards can exist • Additional field research is needed to more fully

characterize risk for exposure

Initial Flowback Conclusions

Occupational Exposures to Respirable Crystalline Silica during Hydraulic Fracturing, JOEH

OSHA/NIOSH Hazard Alert: Worker Exposures to Silica during Hydraulic Fracturing

Evaluation of Some Potential Chemical Exposure Risks during Flowback Operations, JOEH

Select Publications

Summary

• Fatality Rates are improving, but work left to do.

• New hazards are emerging: inhalation of hydrocarbons.

• Old hazards persist.

Contact Info and Acknowledgements

Contact Info:

Kyla Retzer, NIOSH, Western States Divisionkgz7@cdc.gov , 303-236-5934

Acknowledgements: Ryan Hill, NIOSH, Oil and Gas ProgramNORA Oil and Gas Sector Council

June 8, 2015