THE IMPACT OF PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL HAZARDS ON OCCUPATIONAL ACCIDENTS AND ILLNESSES IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY – A REVIEW

As industrialisation spreads around the globe, occupational safety and health hazards are increasing. Recognising hazards is crucial for proper prevention and control to protect workers’ health and well-being. For an organisation its personnel are its most precious asset; thus, the management should prioritise their health and well-being. Physical, chemical, and biological health hazards are the three categories used to classify Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) risks that may lead to the emergence of accidents, diseases, and illnesses. Industrial organisations, including the oil and gas sector may be linked to occupational safety and health risks. Oil and gas operations involve various activities, including exploration and drilling, conventional oil and gas production, extraction and processing of tar sands, heavy oil processing, and pipeline operations. Operations in this industry for offshore and onshore sites involve numerous risks, including hazardous chemicals and the complex, critical equipment in the plant. The oil and gas industry can be characterised as having non-zero risk and non-free hazards. This review is intended to determine the effects of physical, chemical, and biological hazards on occupational accidents and illnesses in the oil and gas industries and the resultant implications upon OSH management.