In the natural gas and oil industry, safety is a core value. The industry works tirelessly to improve safety in the workplace through ongoing research, standards development, advocacy, training, and information sharing. These continued efforts are paying off by delivering safer and healthier work environments as the industry creates thousands of new jobs.
From 2003 to 2013, the natural gas and oil industry workforce doubled in size, yet, the injury and illness rate for the U.S. natural gas and oil industry dropped 41 percent from 2005 to 2014, and remains well below the national average for all private sectors. While our industry is proud of this achievement, more must be done to reach our goal of zero incidents.
Since 1924, API has been the leader in developing industry standards that promote reliability and safety in the workplace and for all who touch our industry – from consumers to employees to our communities. The API Standards Program is accredited by the American National Standard Institute (ANSI), the same body that accredits programs at several national laboratories. These standards are developed by the best and the brightest technical experts from government, academia, and industry. As a part of its Global Industry Services, API maintains a portfolio of more than 700 standards and technical publications, covering all segments of the industry, which are the most widely-cited standards by international regulators.
API constantly collects safety data to provide consistent, reliable and accurate industry metrics to measure and track safety trends to promote continuous improvement throughout the industry. Natural gas and oil companies use these reports to track and compare progress. They also use this information to find areas where improvement is needed. The industry is constantly looking for ways to improve an already well-oiled machine to maintain its high standard for health and safety in the workplace.
The natural gas and oil industry is committed not only to the health and safety of its employees and contractors, but also the people within the communities where we operate. The industry has embraced technological innovation and constant improvements to improve the lives of those who touch our industry. For example, the combination of cleaner transportation fuels and modernized equipment and facilities has helped reduce U.S. air pollutants by 71 percent between 1970 and 2015.
America and Colorado are in the middle of an energy renaissance built upon safe and responsible development of natural gas and oil in a way that protects human health and the environment. In honor of World Day on Safety and Health at Work, we celebrate the strides the natural gas and oil industry has made, but recommit ourselves to continuing to innovate and improve our health and safety practices for the good of our employees and our communities.
Tracee Bentley is the executive director of Colorado Petroleum Council, a division of the American Petroleum Institute.