Chlorides & Acetaldehydes Overview through the Feedstock Contaminants Database

From 2013 to 2017, 489 oil and gas extraction workers lost their lives on the job (Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries). The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that hand injuries were the second most common injury, after lower back injuries. In a recent US Department of Labor study, of all injures reported, injuries to fingers and hands accounted for more than 23%, making them the highest in preventable injuries and in terms of lost workdays, they ranked second only to back and neck injuries. Ensuring that the best possible EHS measures are in place is the #1 priority for companies operating effectively in the oil and gas space, and it's imperative that these companies continue to bolster health and safety measures wherever possible.

Additionally, flammable gases, including vapors, gases, and hydrogen sulfide may be released from production equipment, trucks or surface equipment including shale shakers or tanks. According to OSHA, “ignition sources can include static, electrical energy sources, open flames, lightning, cigarettes, cutting and welding tools, hot surfaces, and frictional heat.”

Despite the on-going efforts to make field work safer, the oil & gas industry continues to be one of the most hazardous industries requiring meticulous planning, processes and safety precautions and guidelines. Industry workers may even face the risk of fire and explosion from flammable gases, as well as risks of falls or injuries from machines, among others. It also continues to be one of the most competitive.

As we have seen in many other industries, technology continues to be a key driver in making workplaces safer and productive. As a result, many oil and gas companies are now adopting technologies that attempt to boost worker productivity while enhancing worker safety.

To add to the challenges, the skills gap in the industry can be felt as baby boomers retire in droves, leaving fewer unskilled workers than ever and a need to recruit and retain young talent. These “digital natives” expect their work to include technology that is simple and convenient to use. In these environments, however, bringing in new technology creates even more challenges.

• How can they provide their workers with access to information when they need it without compromising safety?

• How can workers communicate easily with remote experts, or access critical data in the enterprise?

Finally, the pandemic has created even more challenges, with fewer and fewer engineers expected to be ‘in the field’ as these companies have now proven out some of the remote technology and connectivity options for frontline workers over the past several years.

Assisted Reality was developed by technology pioneers such as RealWear to address both safety and productivity on the frontlines. Over the past five years, assisted reality in the oil and gas sector has become an important new catalyst for digital transformation. When paired with an intrinsically safe wearable, it quickly becomes the gold standard for oil and gas work.

Assisted reality refers to a maturing technology that displays a non-immersive display of relevant content via a heads-up display (HMD). Think of it like a dashboard of digital ‘snacks’ that you can glance at without using your hands, and with minimal or no gestures. The user controls it primarily with simple voice commands, even in high noise, bright or darkened environments. Assisted reality wearables enable workers to access the right information at the right time while allowing full situational awareness. These are typically monocular devices (requires only one eye to use). This differs in meaningful ways from virtual, augmented, mixed reality, or ‘smart glasses’ which cannot be permitted in the hazardous field and are meant for training or simulation (not in the real, physical world). Thus, assisted reality is a reality-first, digital-second experience. In essence, one wouldn’t want a worker accessing information through a tablet or phone, where not only would their hands be occupied - possibly requiring them to remove their gloves, too - but she would be looking down rather than forward at the work and surroundings. Wearable assisted reality devices provide the user with that same computing power they would get from a professional enterprise tablet, but with the capability for this technology to be clipped directly onto a hard hat. This enables a worker to quickly glance at the screen without taking their attention away from dangerous equipment or scenarios.

From a risk perspective, the technology enables workers to stay connected at all times, with the ability to communicate with colleagues around the world via video conferencing software, without using their hands. Assisted reality devices also provide the ability to investigate and learn from incidents, in real-time, as well as the ability to conduct health, safety and environmental field audits and assurance activities hands-free. All of this is achieved through the use of audio and visual technology. One such feature that is particularly key in ensuring that the technology can meet the needs of the oil and gas industry, are the advancements that have been made in speech and voice recognition software. This has resulted in assisted reality wearables being able to be operated safely in extremely noisy industrial settings, marking a turning point in the wider adoption of the technology across the oil & gas industry.

Assisted reality has also been a vital technology for oil and gas companies in continuing to operate safely through the pandemic. French Multinational Total S.A. utilised the technology at its La Porte Polypropylene Plant during the pandemic. Total’s La Porte plant is the largest single-site polypropylene plant in North America and produces 2.7 billion pounds of polypropylene per year. The plant produces materials used in the making of masks and gowns, so it was particularly important that it remained operational during the pandemic.

Following its deployment of the technology, the plant was able to continue mass producing the raw materials used in the making of those essential medical supplies. Field operators using assisted reality devices were able to communicate instantly across the globe with remote experts during times of travel restrictions and social distancing where it was essential that in-person travel was limited wherever possible.

Another important safety consideration is ruggedized wearable, technologies which are devices that are designed to be comfortably worn with personnel protective equipment (PPE) in addition to being able to operate hands-free. For instance, a wearable headset could be clipped on to a worker’s hard hat and operated completely hands-free, as opposed to using a tablet computer; not only does a tablet take a worker’s eyes off the job and obstruct their wider surroundings, but a tablet needs to be operated by hand, which invites its own risks and dangers.

In an industrial setting like a construction site or offshore rig, this becomes even more concerning. Wearing the proper PPE is paramount, and when you’re adding a wearable device it becomes essential that your workers are trained and that the proper device is chosen to maintain full situational awareness allowing for the compliant PPE. In one study, for example, it was found that a vast majority of employees who suffer hand injuries were not wearing gloves at the time and that many of those injured were wearing the wrong kind of gloves. According to a recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) study, 70.9% of hand and arm injuries could have been prevented with personal protective equipment (PPE), specifically safety gloves.

Maintaining and enhancing safety within the oil & gas industry is an ongoing conversation, especially as digital transformation has accelerated due to the pandemic. The traditionally low-tech industry is seeing better tools to help improve worker productivity and efficiency. However, these additions truly need to be designed to complement and support frontline workers in hazardous environments who require the use of both hands for their tasks.