Occupational Accidents in the Oil and Gas Industry: Influencing Factors Within a Holistic, Predictive Model

Despite significant efforts to improve safety, occupational accidents continue to occur at anunacceptable rate. Most research attempts to convincestakeholders that the problem can be solved byimprovements in a particular area, such as protectiveequipment, corporate safety culture, or training. This work adopts the alternative approach thataccident causation is holistic and also includesunconventional external influencing factors such asthe price of oil and societal value placed on life. This book reviews approaches to accident causationand modelling taken by researchers over the past halfcentury. An analysis of current statistics ispresented, which demonstrates significant differencesin accident rates between regions and companies, andwhen performing different activities. Based on theresulting conclusion that accidents are influenced byelements at direct, corporate, and external levels, aholistic model has been developed which predictsaccident rates. The present work was based on the oiland gas industry, but the concepts are easilytransferred to others. The book will be useful tosafety professionals in all industries.