According to preliminary results from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, injuries as a whole in the oil and gas and mining industries are down, but injuries from ascending or descending ladders was up in 2010(1). Simple preventive measures and education can help reduce these accidents.
Dr. N. Krishnamurthy, member of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE), Society for Risk Analysis, USA (SRA), and Singapore Institution of Safety Officers (SISO), states: "Working from heights is the most dangerous of all activities in all industries worldwide."(2)
The oil and gas industry is no exception.
The demand for oil consumption has created a hiring boom in the oil and gas industry. Reports from Associated Press(3) suggest that employers are hiring young, inexperienced workers to work long hours, in a physically demanding environment. Language barriers in today's global economy are also creating work related issues with employee safety programs.
It was found that 25% of injuries and illnesses with days away from work are a result of fractures, which typically have a long recovery time(4). While the offshore oil and gas industry has mandated the use of fall arrest systems on ladders for many years, HSE personnel have identified derrick ladders as an area where injuries are occurring due to the oil and mud on workers boots. Anti-slip ladder rung covers are suggested as an option to minimize incidents in this work zone.
When working in harsh environments where wet, oily, dusty, slippery and muddy conditions exist, installing anti-slip ladder rung covers can be the simplest choice to help reduce ladder injuries. Anti-slip ladder rung covers offers additional hand and foot grip, when ascending or descending into work areas. If power outages frequently occur and employees are working in dark environments,
these covers are available in photoluminescent 'glow-in-the-dark' colors; illuminating the ladder path to safety.
SAFEGUARD® Technology offers Hi-Traction(™) anti-slip ladder covers in 'Round', 'Channel' or 'Angle (Snap-on)' shaped covers designed to fit over existing ladder rungs. These covers are available in Pultruded FRP fiberglass, stainless steel, and galvanized steel. They install quickly using adhesive, mechanical fasteners or in the case of steel-based covers, can be tack welded.
For more information about the Hi-Traction anti-slip ladder rung covers, visit Safeguard's website.
(1)Bureau of Labor Statistics / US Department of Labor (News Release, Thursday, August 25, 2011 USDL-11-1247)
(2)Professor N. Krishnamurthy, Safety Consultant (Global Concerns on Working at Height In the Oil and Gas Industry)
(3)US oil fields are increasingly killing fields (Deaths among workers rise as inexperienced crews work longer shifts, AP Associated Press, 9/10/2008)
(4)Bureau of Labor Statistics / US Department of Labor (Oil and Gas Industry Fatal and Nonfatal Occupational Injuries Fact Sheet, Oil and Gas Industry, April 2010)
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