What are OSHA’s Regulations on Oil Rigs?

Posted in Oil Industry on October 11, 2016

Oil drilling and refining is one of the largest industries in the entire world, and it literally funds entire countries/regions.

In the US alone, oil is a massive industry, and due to recent expansions in drilling, we are now officially an oil exporting country. Naturally, whether you are working in a land-based oil field or working on an off-shore oil rig, drilling for oil is a very dangerous occupation, and as such, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has more than a few regulations that they vigorously enforce.

While it would be impossible to go into explicit detail on each and every regulation, here are some of the categories that OSHA has laws in:

Physical Work Environment

  • Walking and working surfaces
    • General requirements
    • Guarding floor and wall openings and holes
    • Fixed industrial stairs
    • Fixed ladders
    • Safety requirements for scaffolding
  • Means of egress
    • Exit routes, emergency action plans, and fire prevention plans
    • Design and construction requirements for exit routes
    • Maintenance, safeguards, and operational features for exit routes

Oil Rig Accident AttorneysPowered Platforms, Manlifts, and Vehicle-Mounted Work Platforms

  • Powered platforms for building maintenance
  • Personal fall arrest system

Environmental Controls, Subparts G and J

  • Occupational health and environment control
    • Occupational noise exposure
  • General environmental controls
    • Sanitation
    • Specifications for accident prevention signs and tags
    • Permit-required confined spaces
    • The control of hazardous energy (lockout/tagout)
      • Typical minimal lockout procedures
    • Medical services and first aid

Personal Protective Equipment, Subpart I

  • General requirements
  • Eye and face protection
  • Respiratory protection
  • Head protection
  • Foot protection

There are hundreds more specific areas in which OSHA regulates safety. For a comprehensive list, with details on specific rules, please see this page.

If you or a loved one were injured during an oil drilling operation, do not hesitate to get in touch with an attorney. You may be entitled to compensation, allowing you and your family the time off to heal and recover.