Raising health and safety awareness in the oil and gas industry is the mission of US Labor Department's OSHA "stand down" in Humble, Texas.The stand down was intended to raise health and safety awareness in the oil and gas industry.The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the national Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the National Service, Transmission, Exploration & Production Safety Network (STEPS) sponsored a national stand down intended to raise awareness and to promote safety and health practices at United States oil and gas exploration sites and production sites. The event was held at the Humble Civic Center in Humble.At the stand down, the assistant secretary of labor for occupational safety and health stated:"Too many workers are dying in the oil and gas drilling industry. Employers need to ensure that jobs are planned out, everyone has adequate training in all aspects of safety and workers need to be part of the planning," and "We are telling employers that by identifying and eliminating hazards and training oil and gas workers to abate these hazards, you can save lives."After the stand down, participants shared safety and health information with workers and contractors. For more information go to http://www.oshastanddown.org.OSHA:OSHA enforces the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, under which employers are responsible for providing safe and healthful workplaces for their employees. Through its Alliance Program, OSHA works with businesses, trade associations, unions, consulates, professional organizations, faith- and community-based organizations, and educational institutions to prevent workplace fatalities, injuries and illnesses to develop compliance assistance tools and resources and to educate workers and employers about their rights and responsibilities.STEPS:STEPS is a volunteer organization in south Texas started by OSHA and the oil and gas industry, since 2003 STEPS has attempted to reduce injuries and fatalities.Read More
