Before the first person arrives at a well site, a number of safety protocols swing into action. In fact, there is no greater priority than keeping employees, residents and communities safe during production. Here are just a few ways safety is maintained at every step.

Well site safety training, equipment and clothing.

Hardhats, eye protection, flame-resistant clothing or “FRCs” and steel-toed boots that meet federal safety standards are required on and within 75-feet of all active well sites. Beyond what they wear, oil and natural gas employees who work or service an active well site each take a minimum of 25 hours of safety training per year. In addition, many exploration and production companies reward field employees with incentives for reaching safety milestones.

drill-site-safety-meeting-00_02_58_02-still002_editBefore beginning their shift, employees are required to attend safety meetings. These mandatory meetings, held at drilling sites each day, are where employees get prepped on the progress being made and important safety protocols to bear in mind as they start their day (or night).

Stringent OSHA compliance, CPR training and certifications in chemical handling help ensure the highest levels of safety are maintained. Oil and natural gas producers go above and beyond what’s required by law to keep employees safe.

Safety at the intersection of production and progress.

Oil and natural gas production near towns across Oklahoma means more money coming into communities. It also means large trucks, heavy equipment and increased traffic. Fortunately, there are several ways the industry keeps traffic and the state’s natural resources flowing smoothly.

  • Driver Education: Classroom and hands-on defensive driving courses specifically related to situations employees might encounter driving to and from well sites.
  • Driver Monitoring: In-vehicle monitoring systems that track acceleration, braking and other employee driving habits.
  • Safe Driver Recognition: Many production companies award incentives to drivers and field workers for maintaining safe operations over time.
  • Safety Rules of the Road: Along with established traffic laws, most production companies enforce additional safety rules for drivers that include lower speed limits, weather condition precautions and other safety protocols. They also work with state and local officials to pre-plan routes, minimize backing up and reduce traffic problems.

From site setup to production, Oklahoma oil and natural gas producers make safety their number one priority. Because employees are the most important assets, and there is nothing more critical than keeping communities and residents safe where companies operate.

For more information on the industry’s commitment to safety visit oerb.com/stewardship/safety.

EnergyHQ is powered by the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board – OERB – which is voluntarily funded by the state's oil and natural gas producers and royalty owners. The OERB provides free environmental restoration of abandoned well sites and works to educate the state's citizens about the oil and natural gas industry. For more on the OERB's mission and how it is funded, visit OERB.com.