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Page last reviewed: 08/29/2007 |
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Oil and Gas Well Drilling, Servicing and Storage
This page is a part of an ongoing commitment by OSHA
and the oil and gas well drilling, servicing and storage industry to provide
employers and employees in this industry with information to help in complying
with OSHA and industry standards to ensure a safe workplace.
Exposures to hazards present in the oil and gas well drilling, servicing and storage are addressed in specific standards for general industry.
Standards
This section highlights OSHA standards, directives (instructions for compliance officers), standard interpretations (official letters of interpretation of the standards), state standards, other federal standards and national consensus standards related to oil and gas well drilling and servicing. For
information specific to above ground storage tanks, see OSHA's Storage Tanks Safety and Health Topics Page.
Note: Twenty-five states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands have OSHA-approved State Plans and have adopted their own standards and enforcement policies. For the most part, these States adopt standards that are identical to Federal OSHA. However, some States have adopted different standards applicable to this topic or may have different enforcement policies.
OSHA
Frequently Cited Standards
A listing of the most frequently cited standards by Federal OSHA for Oil And Gas Field Services Industry Group (SIC code 138) is available. Additional information for other frequently cited Federal and State OSHA standards is available by SIC code and jurisdiction by entering your own SIC code, finding a SIC code of interest, or using one of the following pre-selected SIC codes (returns onlycitations issued by Federal OSHA):
- 131 - Crude petroleum and natural gas
- 138 - Oil and gas field services
Highlighted Standards
General Industry (29 CFR 1910)
- 1910 Subpart D, Walking-working surfaces
- 1910 Subpart E,
Means of egress
- 1910 Subpart F, Powered platforms, manlifts, and vehicle-mounted work platforms
- 1910.66, Powered platforms for building maintenance
- Appendix C, Personal fall arrest system (section I -
mandatory; sections II and III - non-mandatory)
- 1910 Subpart G, Occupational health and environment control
- 1910.95, Occupational noise exposure. Note: In 1910.95 (O) it states:
"Paragraphs (c) through (n) of this section shall not apply to employers engaged in oil and gas well drilling and servicing operations."
- 1910 Subpart H, Hazardous materials
- 1910.106, Flammable and combustible liquids
- 1910.110, Storage and handling of liquefied petroleum gases
- 1910.120, Hazardous waste operations and emergency response
- 1910 Subpart I, Personal protective equipment
- 1910 Subpart J, General environmental controls
- 1910 Subpart L, Fire protection
- 1910 Subpart N, Materials handling and storage
- 1910 Subpart O, Machinery and machine guarding
- 1910 Subpart P, Hand and portable powered tools and other hand-held equipment
- 1910 Subpart Q, Welding, cutting, and brazing
- 1910 Subpart S, Electrical
- 1910.303, General requirements [related topic page]
- 1910.304, Wiring design and protection
- 1910.305, Wiring methods, components, and equipment for general use
- 1910.307, Hazardous (classified) locations
- 1910.332, Training
- 1910.333, Selection and use of work practices
- 1910.334, Use of equipment
- 1910.335, Safeguards for personnel protection
- 1910 Subpart Z, Toxic and hazardous substances [related topic page]
Directives
Standard Interpretations
Other Related Information
- Authority of Coast Guard and OSHA regarding enforcement of safety and health standards aboard vessels inspected and certified by the Coast Guard. Memorandum of Understanding, (1983, March 4).
- Cooperation of OSHA and the USCG in date exchange, standards research and development. Memorandum of Understanding, (1979, December 19).
State
OSHA Regulations
California
- Title 8; Chapter 4, Division of Industrial Safety
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.
Alaska
Texas
- Title 16, Economic Regulation; Part 1, Railroad Commission of Texas
Utah
Wyoming
Other Federal
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.
Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA)
- 49 CFR 171,
General Information, Regulations, and Definitions
- 49 CFR 172, Hazardous Materials Table, Special Provisions, Hazardous Materials Communications, Emergency Response Information, Training Requirements and Security Plans
- 49 CFR 173, Shippers -- General Requirements for Shipments and Packagings
- 49 CFR 177, Carriage by Public Highway
- 49 CFR 178, Specifications for Packagings
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)
- 10 CFR 39,
Licenses and Radiation Safety Requirements for Well Logging
National Consensus
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.
American National Standards Institute (ANSI)/American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE)
- Z41, Personal Protection - Protective Footwear
- Z49.1, Safety in Welding and Cutting and Allied Processes
- Z87.1, Practice for Occupational and Educational Eye and Face Protection
- Z88.2, Respiratory Protection
- Z89.1, Requirements for Industrial Head Protection
- Z117.1, Safety Requirements for Confined Spaces
- Z359.1, Safety Requirements for Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Subsystems and Components
American Petroleum Institute (API) API develops standards that identify and support proven, sound engineering and operating practices, and safe, interchangeable equipment and materials, for use in the petroleum industry. API is an accredited Standards Developing Organization that meets the due process requirements of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Recommended Practices and Guidelines
The petroleum and petrochemical industry along with many safety organizations have addressed specific hazards in oil and gas well drilling, and servicing operations by developing a number of publications, recommended practices and guidelines that specifically address safe work practices. OSHA has published its recommendations in the following safety bulletins:
- Worker Exposure to Silica during Hydraulic Fracturing. OSHA-NIOSH Hazard Alert, (2012). Discusses the health hazards associated with hydraulic fracturing and focuses on worker exposures to silica in the air.
- Potential Flammability Hazard Associated with Bulk Transportation of Oilfield Exploration and Production (E&P) Waste Liquids. OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin, (2008, March 24). Also available as a 51 KB PDF, 8 pages.
- Hazards Associated with De-Watering of Pipelines. OSHA Safety and Health Information Bulletin, (2004, June 21). Also available as a 50 KB PDF, 6 pages.
- Barrier Guard for Drawworks Drum at Oil Drilling Sites. OSHA Hazard Information Bulletin, (1995, July 13).
- Confined Space Entry on Drilling Rigs. OSHA Hazard Information Bulletin, (1990, May 30).
- Potential Health Hazards Associated with Handling Pipe used in Oil and Gas Production. OSHA Hazard Information Bulletin, (January 26, 1989).
- Static Electricity Buildup in Plastic Pipe. OSHA Hazard Information Bulletin, (1988, September 30).
For
information specific to industry standards for above ground storage tanks, see OSHA's
Storage Tanks Safety and Health Topics Page.
American Petroleum Institute (API) API develops standards that identify and support proven,
sound engineering and operating practices, and safe, interchangeable equipment
and materials, for use in the petroleum industry. API is an accredited
Standards Developing Organization that meets the due process requirements of
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do
provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker
protection.
- Bulletins
- E1, Generic Hazardous Chemical Category List and Inventory for the Oil and Gas Exploration and Production Industry (Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-know Act).
- Specifications
- 9A, Wire Rope. Covers wire rope of various grades and construction; also, torpedo lines, well-measuring wire, and galvanized wire guy strand. Mooring wire rope is also included.
- Recommended Practices
- 4G, Maintenance and Use of Drilling and Well Servicing Structures. Recommendations are supplemental to the manufacturer's instructions and should give satisfactory performance when used within the stipulated load capacities for the drilling or well-servicing structure.
- 8B, Inspection, Maintenance, Repair, and Remanufacture of Hoisting Equipment. Provides owners and users of equipment listed in RP 8B guidelines for inspection, maintenance, repair, and remanufacture procedures that may be utilized to maintain serviceability of the covered equipment.
- 9B, Application, Care, and Use of Wire Rope for Oil Field Service. Covers size and construction, field care and use, field problems and their causes, recommended design features of wire rope, and evaluation of rotary drilling lines.
- 11ER, Guarding of Pumping Units. (ANSI/API RP 11ER-1992) (includes Supplement 1, July 1, 1991). Provides a reference guide for the design, manufacture, and installation of guards for oil well pumping units.
- 11G, Installation and Lubrication of Pumping Units. Covers installation of beam-type pumping units and lubrication of pumping-unit reducers.
- 49, Recommended Practice for Drilling and Well Service Operations Involving Hydrogen Sulfide. Applies to oil and gas well drilling and servicing operations involving hydrogen sulfide including well drilling, completion, servicing, workover, downhole maintenance, and plug and abandonment procedures conducted with hydrogen sulfide present in the fluids being handled.
- 53, Blowout Prevention Equipment Systems for Drilling Operations. Provides information that can serve as a guide for installation and testing of blowout prevention equipment systems on land and marine drilling rigs (barge, platform, bottom-supported, and floating).
- 54, Occupational Safety for Oil and Gas Well Drilling and Servicing Operations. Procedures for promotion and maintenance of safe working conditions for employees engaged in rotary drilling operations and well servicing operations, including special services.
- 67, Oilfield Explosives Safety. Provides guidance on explosives transportation, on-site explosives loading and unloading operations,
electrical wireline operations, tubing conveyed operations, self-contained activating tools, setting tools, sidewall sample taker tools, select fire perforating guns, and bullet perforating guns.
- 68, Well Servicing and Workover Operations Involving Hydrogen Sulfide. Addresses personnel training, personnel protective equipment, contingency planning and emergency procedures.
- 500, Classification of Locations for Electrical Installations at Petroleum Facilities Classified as Class I, Division 1 and Division 2. This recommended practice provides guidelines for determining the degree and extent of Class I, Division 1 and Class I, Division 2 locations at petroleum facilities, for the selection and installation of electrical equipment. Basic definitions provided in the National Electric Code have been followed in developing this document which applies to the classification of locations for both temporarily and permanently installed electrical equipment. RP 500 is intended to be applied where there may be a risk of ignition due to the presence of flammable gas or vapor, mixed with air under normal atmospheric conditions.
Association of Energy Service Companies (AESC). A trade association that represents the interests of members of the energy service segment of the oil and gas industry. It offers publications regarding recommended industry practices and training materials.
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.
- SA 402, Rig Safety Inspection Forms. Provides a complete checklist for rig inspections to ensure that safe operating procedures are being observed.
- SA 400, Recommended Safe Procedures & Guidelines For Oil & Gas Well Servicing. Developed by contractors, producers and manufacturers as an aid to preventing accidents and addresses standard well servicing operations from rigging up through rigging down.
- SA 406, DOT Drug Testing Compliance Guide. Step-by-step guide to establishing and administering a drug testing program for commercial vehicle drivers as required by Department of Transportation Regulations.
- EC 600, Hazardous Communication Compliance Guide. Guide for complying with the community’s right-to-know law.
- Guidelines on the Stability of Well Servicing Derricks. There has been considerable progress within the industry to design
procedures to assure the integrity of the stability system without the necessity of conducting individual pull tests on each of the anchors.
International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC). A trade association that represents the interests of members of the drilling
segment of the oil and gas industry. It offers publications regarding recommended industry practices and training materials.
Note: These are NOT OSHA regulations. However, they do provide guidance from their originating organizations related to worker protection.
- Drilling Manual
- Drilling Technology for the Man on the Rig
- Drilling Technology Series
- Accident Prevention Reference Guide
- Guía de Referencia Para Prevención de Accidentes
- Weekly Safety Meeting Report
- 52 Safety Topics
- Five Minute Rig Safety Meeting Topics
- Guide to Safe Stairways, Walkways, and Railings
- How to Keep Drugs Off Your Rig
- H2S Safety Handbook
- Planning for Drilling in H2S Zones
- Rotary Rig Safety Inspections Checklist
- Rules-of-Thumb for the Man on the Rig
- Safety Regulations for the Oil and Gas Industry
- The Rotary Rig and Its Components Poster
- Home Study Courses: Rotary Drilling Series
- Rig Pass: Accrediting the Basics
- Guide to Blowout Prevention
- Introduction to Well Control
- Well Control for the Man on the Rig
- The Pit Watcher
- H2S Safety in Drilling and Production
- Makin' Hole: How Oilwells are Drilled
- Roughneck Training
- Tripping Practices
- Safe Rigging Practices
- Basic Rigging Concepts
- Drums, Blocks, Sheaves, and Wire Rope Terminations
- Rigging Gear and Inspection Criteria
- Safe Rigging Practices and Procedures
- Putting Slings to Work
- WellCAP Accreditation Program
Additional Information
Related Safety and Health Topics Pages
Training
- OSHA Training Institute Course Catalog Search
- 3000-Safety and Health for Oil and Gas Well Operations. Focuses on the safety and health aspects of on- and off-shore oil and gas well operations. It includes terminology, processes, equipment and materials, and special hazards. The course features operations of a drilling rig and a workover rig. Participants observe oil drilling equipment and operations such as making up and breaking out pipe drilling joints, throwing the spinning chain, placing and removing drilling pipe, and working from the derrick.
- Events & Training. American Petroleum Institute (API).
- Education Center. Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA).
- Training Courses. Petroleum Extension Service (PETEX).
- Association of Energy Service Companies (AESC).
- TR 200, A Primer of Oilwell Drilling. Describes drilling operations from exploration to installing the Christmas tree and explains such procedures as preparing the drill site, rigging up, normal drilling operations, running and cementing casing, fishing, directional drilling, well-control procedures, and well testing.
- TR 201, Primer of Oilwell Servicing & Workover. Offers an introduction to the methods and equipment used in well servicing operations.
- TR 202, Basic Tools and Equipment for the Oil Field. Provides a basic description with pictures of common oil field tools with emphasis on proper and safe use of the tools.
- TR 203, Well Servicing Workover Correspondence Course. Twelve lessons on well servicing and workover designed to be used as home study lessons.
- TV 300, Workover Rig: Driver Safety Training Video. Designed to instruct an operator in the proper and safe methods of driving a rig and covers varying weather conditions, as well as the unique characteristics of a rig that require the driver to adjust his attitude and driving habits.
- TV 301, Orientation: New Well Servicing Personnel Video. Trains new employees on what is expected and what to expect from a
career in well servicing and covers many aspects of working safely including pinch points, safe operating procedures and housekeeping.
- TV 303, "In One Breath" H2S Safety Video. Provides information on the dynamics of hydrogen sulfide gas, detection methods, areas of possible exposure, use of protective
equipment, signs of poisoning and what to do in a medical emergency.
- TV 304, Rod Wrenching: Safe and Sound Video.
- TV 308, Rescue Procedures for Workers in the Derrick Video.
- TV 310, Pumping Unit Safety. Safety awareness video for pump jack safety.
Other Resources
Government
Industry
Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Technical Support and Emergency Management at (202) 693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.
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