Due to the potential hazards of operating oil rigs, the state and federal governments of North Dakota have issued various safety regulations to help minimize the risk of accidents such as rig collapses. Here’s what you need to know about these critical safety laws.
Overview of Key Regulations
Safety regulations for oil and gas rigs in North Dakota come from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration – the federal agency responsible for workplace safety – and the North Dakota Industrial Commission’s Oil and Gas Division. The regulations issued by these agencies govern site preparation, well drilling, and servicing operations.
Safety regulations intended to prevent oil rig collapses cover various topics, including design/construction standards for rigs, worker training, safety equipment requirements, and emergency response procedures should a rig become damaged or collapse.
Design and Construction Standards
Safety regulations to prevent oil rig collapses begin with design and construction standards to ensure that operators build rigs capable of withstanding various conditions without excessive damage or wear and tear. Design/construction standards focus on considering potential loads on the rig’s structure, using appropriate construction materials, requiring redundancies, and thoroughly analyzing rig designs to identify potential flaws or deficiencies. Oil rig design and construction standards come from state and federal agencies and private industry groups, such as the American Petroleum Institute.
Worker Training Protocols
Safety regulations also include protocols for the training of oil rig workers. Mandatory worker training should cover various safety issues, such as using fall protection correctly, proper use of personal protective equipment, hazard communication protocol, and emergency response procedures. Worker training can also cover oil rig inspection and maintenance protocols to ensure workers adequately maintain rig structures and equipment and promptly identify potentially hazardous conditions that may lead to a rig collapse.
Worker protocols should also include having experienced supervisors and safety managers on site to ensure rig workers adhere to safety regulations and to supplement workers’ efforts to inspect and maintain oil rig structures and equipment.
Equipment Maintenance and Inspection Requirements
Oil rig safety regulations can include mandated inspection and maintenance schedules for rig equipment or structures. Regular inspections and maintenance can prevent excessive wear and tear on equipment and structures and identify conditions that may signal an imminent rig collapse, which may require cessation of operations, evacuation of the rig, and intensive repairs. Inspection and maintenance regulations may also require rig operators to use technology to provide real-time monitoring of equipment conditions to prevent breakdowns that may lead to a devastating accident.
Safety Equipment Requirements
Safety regulations require rig operators to install various protective equipment or tools to keep rig workers safe in an accident like a rig collapse. Common examples of required safety equipment include fall protection systems like harnesses or safety nets, personal protective equipment like safety goggles, hardhats, and flame-resistant work clothing, and emergency evacuation equipment to help workers get off and move away from a rig during a collapse or another type of accident.
Emergency Response Procedures
Finally, rig operators need emergency response procedures to ensure workers know what to do in the event of an accident, such as an oil rig collapse. Employers should ensure that workers familiarize themselves with emergency response procedures. Safety regulations also require rig operators to report incidents and accidents to state and federal regulatory bodies and cooperate with investigations into emergencies that cause injuries or property damage.
Contact a Workplace Injury Lawyer Today After Getting Hurt in a Rig Collapse
When you’ve gotten hurt in an oil and gas rig collapse in North Dakota, you may have the right to pursue compensation or financial benefits that can help you during your injury recovery. Contact Pringle & Herigstad, P.C. today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a workplace injury attorney to discuss your legal options for seeking financial recovery after a rig collapse.
