Safety & System Integrity
Safety is a core value for the oil and natural gas industry, which works tirelessly to improve safety in the workplace through ongoing research, standards development, training, information sharing, and advocacy. These efforts are paying off. Even as the industry provides the foundation for our economy and quality of life, the injury and illness rate for the U.S. oil and natural gas industry remains well below the national average for all private sectors. Still, the goal is zero incidents and the industry remains committed to continuous improvement.
Since 1924, API has been the leader in developing industry standards that promote reliability and safety in the workplace. The API Standards Program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the same body that accredits programs at several national laboratories, and these standards are developed by the best and brightest technical experts from government, academia, and industry.
The oil and natural gas industry is committed not only to the safety and health of our employees, and our contractors, but also the people of the communities in which we operate. Careful review of the science shows that the current, robust industry standards and stringent state and federal regulations are protecting public health. America is in the middle of an energy renaissance built upon the safe and responsible development of oil and gas reserves in a manner that is protective of human health and the environment.
Industry Commitment To Safety
America’s oil and natural gas industry considers safety its top priority and is committed to developing the technologies, standards and best practices, and programs needed to help ensure that workplace safety is at the forefront of our activities.
Workplace Safety Report (2013-2022)
This report compares the safety rates of job related nonfatal injuries and illnesses of the U.S. Oil and Natural Gas industry with comparable U.S. industries. The Oil and Natural Gas industry’s workplace safety record consistently improves on the Private sector average, reflecting the industry’s commitment to safe and healthy working environments.
API Guide for Developing a UAS Program in the Oil and Natural Gas Industry
The case for using unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in the oil and natural gas industry has grown significantly over the last few years and continues to grow as new systems, applications, sensors, and techniques are developed to make UAS operations more tailored to the industry. These systems have the potential to significantly reduce safety risks to personnel, cut operational costs, and increase efficiencies across a variety of tasks. However, much is unknown and untested about these systems, the operators, and the potential limitations of their uses in complex industrial environments where safety is of paramount concern. API’s Guide is intended to serve as a roadmap for operators who want to incorporate UAS safely into their operations. The Guide lays out considerations for operators developing a program, such as data protection, developing standard operating procedures, contingency planning, and risk management. The Guide is intended for owners and operators, as well as service providers that are considering entering the industry.
Oil & Natural Gas Supply Chains
The oil and natural gas supply chains can be complicated and sometimes obscure systems to many who rely on their products and services. API has created supply chain models for both oil and natural gas to communicate, in the simplest terms, how the industry works from the identification of resources to the end user.
Oil and Natural Gas Industry Preparedness Handbook
API created the Oil and Natural Gas Industry Preparedness Handbook, with support from members and associations throughout the industry, to illustrate how local responses can be aided by local, State and regional associations, established relationships with governments and communities, and how corporate and federal capabilities can facilitate efficient response and recovery at the local level.
Be Aware: Report Suspicious Activity
Safety and security underpin activities throughout the oil and gas industry.
Well Site Safety
Safety at unmanned oil well sites is important to the oil and natural gas industry. A key issue is safety at oil field storage tanks. Typically these are located in rural or remote locations – though oil and natural gas development is moving into more urban, more populated areas as well. People who aren’t authorized to be on these sites should stay away from such facilities.
Achieving Energy Security
The connection of a security problem with oil use can be traced to early 20th century concern over access to fuel as the world’s major navies shifted to oil power. Modern day concern over oil security, however, is broader than access to military fuel.
Homeland Security
The U.S. oil and natural gas industry has long operated globally, often in unstable regions overseas where security is an integral part of providing for the world’s energy needs. After September 11th, 2001, the industry partnered with federal and local authorities to reevaluate and strengthen our domestic security.