OGP Workshop Focuses on Industry Fatalities

Work related fatalities were the focus of the OGP Safety Committee's Safety Data Task Force workshop held in London in September. The workshop determined the number of industry fatalities in 2005 and identified the areas that were of primary concern.

The Task Force highlighted the fact that out of the 84 fatalities reported in 2005, 76 of the deaths were contracted staff while eight of the fatalities involved company personnel. The areas of emphasis where fatalities occurred included falls, drowning, explosion/burn and being struck. By far the largest cause of fatalities resulted from vehicle incidents.

The Committee Task Force confirmed vehicle accidents account for 37.3% of fatalities. Exploration Logistics Driver Training teams have been vigilant in their efforts to reduce high rates of road related incidents and have continued to produce outstanding results in road safety awareness for their clients and contractors. The aim is to promote driver safety amongst employees driving in unfamiliar road conditions and the success rate in reducing driving fatalities amongst the client's workforce is the paramount goal. Meeting OGP Driver Safety Guidelines in 2008 by industry members is one of the ways Exploration Logistics Driver Training teams can help clients meet this objective.

In addition to the statistics regarding driving fatalities, the OGP noted four areas of safety improvements. These included incorporating safety alerts in management systems and communicating them to the workforce, applying confined space procedures to individuals working under these conditions, signage improvements for warning hazards and encouraging upstream personnel to take action earlier in potentially hazardous situations to help preclude accidents.

The unfortunate incidents that led to 84 industry fatalities last year should be a call to OGP members for to improve safety awareness across all industry levels. Exploration Logistics has been in the health and safety field for over 20 years and continues to provide leading service and information to clients to help reduce the rates of avoidable work related accidents and fatalities.