August 11, 2015
Atlanta, Georgia
NIOSH is proposing a survey to assess factors associated with motor vehicle crashes among oil and gas extraction workers.
The three-year project would involve distributing a questionnaire on general safety and health concerns to about 625 oil and gas extraction workers in Texas, North Dakota and a state in the Appalachian Basin. Workers who drive as part of their job would receive additional questions about their driving environment and behaviors.
Fifty Percent of all oilfield vehicle crashes occur in pick-up trucks.
What mode of transportation do you commute in daily to reach the well site or pipeline?
Fatigue is one of the leading causes of injury in the industry due to the long hours and stress related to the type of work we all perform on a daily basis. I met a young man about seven months ago that fell asleep behind the wheel in route to the well in a company pick-up. He woke up being airlifted to a trauma center because he crossed over the grass median on a rural highway and hit a semi head on and lived to tell his story.
Six years later he is still recovering, unable to work, and still trying to raise a family. Fortunately for him his wife went back to school and is the main financial source for the family.
We already covered the first fifty percent of oilfield vehicle crashes, what about the other fifty percent? If you guessed Commercial Motor Vehicles you are correct.
Most Drivers are working thirteen to fifteen hours a day depending on what Oilfield Rule Set you fall under and it will take a toll on your body. Mix in the current summer heat, humidity, and inclement weather and you’re in for the long haul to the get the job done.
What about driving on an unfamiliar two lane road with no shoulder and throw in some livestock or wildlife crossing the roadway? There is no shame in reducing your speed for conditions.
Most rural roads used to access the wells are not originally designed for the large commercial vehicle traffic that supports the Oil and Gas Industry.
In addition to determining on- and off-duty factors that could contribute to motor vehicle crashes, the study aims to identify other safety and health concerns extraction workers may face. Results from the study will be used as a guide in the development of interventions and future research to improve oil and gas workers’ safety and health.
Of the 82 extraction workers killed in 2013, more than one-quarter died in transportation incidents, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The proposal was published in the July 10 Federal Register. Comments are due Sept. 8.
PROPOSED PROJECT
Assessing Safety and Health Hazards to Workers in Oil and Gas Extraction: A Survey—New—Information Collection Request—National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Background and Brief Description
The mission of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is to promote safety and health at work for all people through research and prevention.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act, 91 (section 20[a] [1]), authorizes NIOSH to conduct research to advance the health and safety of workers. NIOSH is proposing a three year study to conduct a survey questionnaire of 500 land-based oil and gas (O&G) extraction workers in 3 U.S. states (Texas, North Dakota, and a state in the Appalachian Basin) to examine safety and health issues and concerns of this workforce.
Workers who drive as a part of their work duties will be asked to complete an additional set of questions about their driving environment and behaviors. We expect a response rate of 80%, so it is estimated that we will approach 625 workers in order to have 500 workers complete the survey.
The goals of this study are (1) To determine on-duty and off-duty factors that contribute to motor vehicle crashes, injuries and illness among U.S. land-based O&G extraction workers and (2) To identify other safety and health needs and concerns of U.S. land-based O&G extraction workers, a largely non-unionized workforce.
The results of this study will guide the development of evidence-based and priority interventions and future research in the O&G extraction industry that will improve the safety and health of O&G workers.
Administration of the survey questionnaire will occur at temporary modular lodging facilities (‘man camps’), training centers, equipment/trucking yards, well sites, and community centers in oilfield towns. A screening questionnaire, “Module 1: Screening” will be administered to 313 workers per year (for 2 years) to determine that the worker is eligible for the survey. This questionnaire will take about 5 minutes.
NIOSH anticipates that up to 63 workers per year (20% of screened workers) will be eligible but not interested in participating in this study. These workers will be asked to complete a brief, 6-question “Non-Respondent Questionnaire”, which will take about 5 minutes. Approximately 250 workers per year (for 2 years) will be eligible and agree to participate in the study (80% response rate).
These workers will complete “Module 2: General,” “Module 3: Well-site work,” and “Module 5: Closing Questions” (approximately 225 workers will use the tablet version and 25 will opt to use the hardcopy version). “Module 5: Closing Questions” includes a brief interview with program staff. The questionnaire and interview will take approximately 40 minutes to complete for workers using the tablet, or 50 minutes for those using the hardcopy version. Workers who drive a company vehicle will also be asked to complete “Module 4: Motor Vehicle.”
An estimated 75% of the workers will complete the driving portion of the survey (187 workers). This module will take approximately 10 additional minutes to complete for those using the tablet (approximately 168 workers per year), or 20 minutes for those completing the hardcopy version (19 workers per year). The total estimated burden hours are 236. There is no cost to respondents other than their time.