Reflections on Hazardous Industries: Health and Safety Regulations and Policies

This paper is a self-reflection on the health and safety regulations followed by the various industries of the world along with a discussion of the lecture notes provided in the class. It covers marine and offshore hazards, occupational hygiene, gender specific challenges, safety training in hazardous industries and more.

Running head: REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
Reflections on Hazardous Industries
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author’s Note:

1REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................2
Statement of Expectations..........................................................................................................2
Roles and Responsibilities.........................................................................................................3
Marine and Offshore Hazards....................................................................................................4
Occupational Hygiene................................................................................................................5
Gender Specific Challenges.......................................................................................................6
Safety Training in Hazardous Industries....................................................................................7
Product Safety............................................................................................................................9
Personal Evaluation..................................................................................................................10
Conclusion................................................................................................................................11
References................................................................................................................................12

2REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
Introduction
I am a student of the SHEM degree course and I joined the course with the desire to
learn about the various important precepts as well as guidelines which dictate the health and
the safety regulations within the framework of the industrial world in the present times. The
increasing number of accidents as well as health hazards has become the order of the day in
the various industries of the world with a worker dying because of inadequate safety and
health regulations every 15 seconds (Flin and O'Connor 2017). This is not just the scenario of
the oil and the gas which is generally considered to be one of the most hazardous industries
of the world in terms of the health as well as the safety threats which the workers face but of
the other industries of the world as well (Ablo 2015). It is specifically here that the role of the
various Health and Safety Managers gain prominence in the context of the present day world
and this is one of the main reasons why I opted for the course under discussion here. This
course is likely to help to know not only about the important legislations but also the
regulations which shape the health and safety policies followed by the various industries of
the world at the present moment. Furthermore, I am hoping to work as a Regional Health and
Safety Manager in the oil and the gas industry and am hoping that this particular course work
would provide me with the relevant kind of skills to succeed in this particular industry. These
mandates form an important part of the health and safety policies followed by the various
industries of the world at the current moment and this paper will be a self-reflection on these
aspects of the health and safety regulations followed by the various industries of the world
along with a discussion of the lecture notes provided in the class.
Statement of Expectations
The basic idea behind the pursuing of this particular course was to gain the relevant
and adequate amount of information which is likely to help me in the professional part of my

3REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
career. At this particular juncture I would like to mention that the oil and the gas has been the
kind of industry which has fascinated as well as attracted me for a very long and at the same
time I am looking forward to work in this particular industry. One of the major issues which
this particular industry has been facing for a very long time is the health and the safety issues
which is the cause of a large number of deaths every year (Ambituuni, Amezaga and Emeseh
2014). Therefore, my expectation at the time of enrolling in this particular course was to gain
an idea about the safety and the health regulations which are being followed in this particular
industry. I personally believe that adequate knowledge about these health and safety
regulations which are being followed by this industry are important since they would help me
to find out the places where the current policies by the oil and the gas industry needs
amendment. Furthermore, I am also hoping that this particular course is likely to provide me
an idea about the concepts of people management skills, enhancing the performance of the
employees, management of an effective relationship among the management of an
organization and the employees associated with it and others. I am personally of the opinion
that these skills are likely to help me in a significant manner to make a positive contribution
towards the organization in which I would be working and at the same time to improve the
health and safety regulations followed by them. The improvement of the health and safety
regulations is of paramount importance since it can save the life of thousands of people on an
annual basis. My area of interest is the improvement of the health and the safety regulations
followed by the oil and the gas industries and thereby to save as many lives as I can.
Roles and Responsibilities
My roles and responsibilities as the Regional Health and Safety Manager would
require me not only to provide effective leadership to the different employees who would be
associated with the concerned organization but at the same time to improve the health and the

4REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
safety regulations and policies followed by the concerned organization. This would require
me to perform various site visits and performed detailed research as regards the kind of
regulations the concerned organization is following in order to come up with new effective
plans as well as policies.
Marine and Offshore Hazards
Hazards are a day-to-day event in the oil and the gas industry and it is as per a
statistics an employee associated with the oil and the gas industry dies every 15 seconds (Flin
and O'Connor 2017). This statistics when viewed through the lens of the large number of
individuals who form a part of the oil and the gas industry becomes even more staggering.
One of the major reasons for the large number of deaths which occur within the specific
framework of the oil and the gas industry is because of the fact that the oil and the gas inspite
of being the largest as well as the one of the most revenue generating industries of the world
fails to effectively take into consideration the health as well as the safety regulations issued
by the various international authorities (Bamberger and Oswald 2014). In addition to this, it is
generally seen that the individuals associated with the oil and the gas industry inspite of
having health as well as safety regulations in place do not take into consideration these
policies and regulations for the performance of their job roles (Antonsen 2017). This
particular behavior on the part of the employees as well as the organizations to which they are
related can often lead to catastrophic events. Some of the instances where the failure to take
into consideration the health and the safety regulations by the organizations as well as the
individuals who were associated with them lead to catastrophic accidents are the Spyros
Accident of Greece (1978), the explosion in the UK North Sea in 1988 and others (Antonsen
2017). Furthermore, in addition to these, there are other causes for the high number of
accidents as well as hazards which occur in the various organizations associated with the oil

5REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
and the gas industry like negligence on the part of the employees, the management team of
the organization and others. This behavior on the part of the employees as well as the
organizations associated with the oil and the gas industry poses a serious threat and cause not
only the damage of property but innumerable lives as well on yearly basis (Witter et al.
2014). Therefore, it becomes imperative for these organizations as well as the employees who
are associated with them to take into effective consideration the health and the safety
regulations propounded by the various international authorities.
The module and as a matter of fact the entire course itself under discussion here is
likely to provide me with adequate amount of information about the present condition of the
health and the safety regulations which are being currently followed by these organization.
Furthermore, it is also likely to provide me with an overview of the necessary changes which
needs to be made in the concerned sector in terms of the health and the safety regulations
which are likely to mitigate the large number of accidents as well as the occupational hazards
that the employees are prone to at the current moment.
Occupational Hygiene
The increasing focus of the various organizations associated with the diverse
industries points towards the significance which the concept of occupational hygiene has
attained within the framework of the current business world in the present times (Sujan et al.
2016). It is a reflection of this particular fact that the various organizations of the present
times try to main adequate level of occupational hygiene. The maintenance of high levels of
occupational hygiene within the framework of a particular organization not only helps the
concerned organization to reduce the number of accidents as well as hazards which occur
within the framework of that particular organization and thereby help to reduce the loss of
property and resources but at the same time also helps to enhance the performance level of

6REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
the overall organization itself (Ahmad et al. 2016). Furthermore, the following of adequate
occupational hygiene has also become imperative for the various organizations because of the
dictums as well as the guidelines of the various international authorities as well (Kirat 2015).
The module under discussion here provides a detailed overview of the various
occupational hygiene policies as well as the regulations which the various industries of the
world need to take into effective consideration. The concept of occupational hygiene gains
even more significance within the particular context of the oil and the gas industry. It is
significant to note that the oil and the gas industry is the one within which even minor
negligence can cause severe amount of damage on the score of the nature of the raw materials
which the employees are supposed to deal with. Thus, I am of the opinion that the
information about the concept of occupation hygiene which I would gain in this particular
module is likely to help me during my professional career as a Regional Health and Safety
Manager in the oil and the gas industry.
Gender Specific Challenges
Gender stereotyping has been part of the human society since the ancient times and
even in the 21st century it forms an important part of the human society. One of the most
important gender stereotypes which has been in practice for a very long time is the fact that
the female members of the society are not equivalent to the men of the society in terms of
physical strength and endurance level (Khan et al. 2016). Therefore, people hold the
viewpoint that they cannot the same kind of tasks or jobs, particularly the manual labor ones
in comparison to the male members of the society. This particular gender stereotype finds its
way even in the workplace culture followed by the various organizations associated with the
various industries of the present times. It is a reflection of this particular fact that only 35% of
women find work in the oil and the gas industry in comparison to 65% men and even the 35%

7REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
who are a part of the oil and the gas industry do not work in the oil and the gas fields (Brauer
2016). These women mostly work in the catering and the service sections which are an
important part of the oil and the gas industry. In the present times it is seen that people
working in the oil and the gas industry are coming out of this particular gender stereotyping
and the women working in the oil and the gas fields as well (Zirogiannis et al. 2016).
However, it needs to be said that the situation is far from ideal and a lot needs to be changed
to achieve the concept of gender equality within the particular framework of the oil and the
gas industry (Zirogiannis et al. 2016).
The course which I have undertaken and also the module which under discussion here
which forms an important part of the coursework provides valuable insight into the reasons
why women do not find adequate amount of work within the oil and gas industry. I am
personally of the opinion that the women form an indispensible part of the human society and
therefore when I will get employed in the oil and the gas industry in the capacity of Regional
Health and Safety Manager I would certainly try to achieve gender equality within the
framework of the organization for which I would be working.
Safety Training in Hazardous Industries
Training forms an important part of the various organizations associated with the
various industries of the world (Villa et al. 2016). The various training programs equip the
individual with the kind of skills as well as information which are likely to help the
concerned individuals to perform their job roles in the best possible manner. It is significant
to note that within the particular cannon of training safety training have gained a considerable
amount of importance. The various safety training programs not only provide the individuals
with the adequate amount of information about the necessity of following safety regulations
as well as policies during the performance of their job roles but at the same time provide

8REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
them adequate amount of information about the various safety regulations and policies that
they need to follow (Raufflet, Cruz and Bres 2014). The effective practice of these safety
regulations ensures the mitigation of the high number of workplace accidents as well as
hazards (Raufflet, Cruz and Bres 2014). Safety training becomes even more important within
the specific context of the oil and the gas industry since the individuals associated with this
particular industry more than any other industry are prone to various kinds of accidents and
occupational hazards (Adgate, Goldstein and McKenzie 2014). It is a reflection of this
particular fact that the various organizations associated with the oil and the gas industry have
made it mandatory for the employees to undergo various kinds of safety training. However,
the organizations also needs to ensure that the trainers who are providing these trainings to
the employees need to do so in a manner that they are being able to make the employees
understand the importance of following these stipulations and also to practice them during the
actual performance of their job roles (Werner et al. 2015).
I am optimistic that the knowledge about the concept of safety training which I have
gained during the course of this module and for that matter the entire course itself is likely to
help me in a significant manner during my professional career in the oil and the gas industry.
Furthermore, the knowledge which I have gained in the module and as a matter of fact during
the course of the entire coursework itself would help me to implement the health and safety
regulations and policies in a much more better manner during my professional career as a
Regional Health and Safety Manager. Therefore, it would be appropriate to say that the
precepts of safety training are as essential prerequisite for an individual who is willing to
work in the oil and the gas sector.

9REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
Product Safety
Safety is a major area of focus of the various organizations associated with diverse
kinds of industries and it is a reflection of this particular fact that the various organizations
have regulations as well as policies to ensure safety (Flin and O'Connor 2017). However, in
the present times it is generally seen that the focus of the major organizations of the world is
not only on providing safe working environment to the employees who are associated with
the concerned organization but at the same time on the safety level of the products provided
by the customers (Ahmad et al. 2016). In the present times it is seen that due to ineffective
safety regulations followed by the various organizations regarding the quality of the products
offered by them to the customers the wellbeing as well as personal safety of the individuals
who take the help of the products offered by the organizations have been put at great risk
(Bamberger and Oswald 2014). Thus, various instances have been noticed wherein the users
of specific have been subjected to various kinds of accidents as well as hazards which have
caused serious level of injuries to the concerned individuals. Thus, it becomes imperative for
the various industries and more specifically the organizations related to the oil and the gas
industry to take into effective consideration the concept of product safety for the manufacture
of the products offered by them to the customers (Bamberger and Oswald 2014). The
effective implementation of this particular concept is likely to reduce the accidents as well as
the hazards which the users of the products offered by the oil and the gas industry usually
face.
I personally believe that the various organizations should try to implement the process
of product safety and take the help of various kinds of international assessment standards for
regulating the quality of the products offered by them to the customers. The module provides
insight information about the process of product safety and I am hoping that this particular

10REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
process will prove itself to be very useful when I start working in the oil and the gas industry
as a Regional Health and Safety Manager.
Personal Evaluation
I would like to comment here that at the beginning of this course I had very
rudimentary idea about the role of the management and the various health and safety
practices which were being followed in the oil and gas industry. In addition to this, the course
also provided me with a detailed information about the importance of following safety
regulations and also the need to implement these regulations since the various accidents as
well as the hazards which are a part of the oil and the gas industry every year not only takes
the life of thousands of people but at the same time destroys valuable property. It is through
the course that I came to know about all these important concepts and at the same time was
able to develop a concrete idea about the various important processes which regulate the oil
and the gas industry.
In addition to these, the course also provided me with valuable information about the
important factors, which affects the oil and the gas industry like marine and offshore hazards,
safety training, occupational hygiene, product safety, gender specific challenges and others.
These are important concepts which are likely to help me during my professional career in
the oil and the gas industry as a Regional Health and Safety Manager. Furthermore, the
important concepts of leadership, training, management skills and others which I gained
during the course of the module is also likely to help me in a significant manner. Thus, I
would like to say that the information which I have derived from this particular course can be
seen as the ground work to which I need to add further skills so as enable me to gain success
in the oil and the gas industry.

11REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
Conclusion
Health and Safety regulations form an important part of the various industries of the
world. The Health and Safety Regulations becomes even more significant within the
particular context of the oil and the gas industry since this particular industry more than any
other industry of the world is prone to various kinds of accidents and hazards. Thus, the
organizations associated with the oil and the gas industry need to take the help of various
kinds of strategies like safety training, occupational hygiene and others in order to ensure the
safety of the employees and also to provide safe working environment to the employees who
are associated with the concerned organization. It is generally seen that these occupational
hazards as well as accidents not only cause the death of many individuals every year but at
the same time cause of destruction of valuable property. Thus, it becomes all the more
important for the organizations related to the oil and the gas as well as others to take into
effective consideration the health and the safety regulations.

12REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
References
Ablo, A.D., 2015. Local content and participation in Ghana's oil and gas industry: Can
enterprise development make a difference?. The Extractive Industries and Society, 2(2),
pp.320-327.
Adgate, J.L., Goldstein, B.D. and McKenzie, L.M., 2014. Potential public health hazards,
exposures and health effects from unconventional natural gas development. Environmental
science & technology, 48(15), pp.8307-8320.
Ahmad, W.N.K.W., Rezaei, J., Tavasszy, L.A. and de Brito, M.P., 2016. Commitment to and
preparedness for sustainable supply chain management in the oil and gas industry. Journal of
environmental management, 180, pp.202-213.
Ambituuni, A., Amezaga, J. and Emeseh, E., 2014. Analysis of safety and environmental
regulations for downstream petroleum industry operations in Nigeria: Problems and
prospects. Environmental Development, 9, pp.43-60.
Antonsen, S., 2017. Safety culture: theory, method and improvement. CRC Press.
Bamberger, M. and Oswald, R.E., 2014. Unconventional oil and gas extraction and animal
health. Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts, 16(8), pp.1860-1865.
Bourrier, M., 2017. Trapping Safety Into Rules: How Desirable Or Avoidable is
Proceduralization?. CRC Press.
Brauer, R.L., 2016. Safety and health for engineers. John Wiley & Sons.
Fingas, M., 2016. Oil spill science and technology. Gulf professional publishing.
Flin, R. and O'Connor, P., 2017. Safety at the sharp end: a guide to non-technical skills. CRC
Press.

13REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
Kelland, M.A., 2014. Production chemicals for the oil and gas industry. CRC press.
Khan, F., Hashemi, S.J., Paltrinieri, N., Amyotte, P., Cozzani, V. and Reniers, G., 2016.
Dynamic risk management: a contemporary approach to process safety management. Current
opinion in chemical engineering, 14, pp.9-17.
King, R., 2016. Safety in the process industries. Elsevier.
Kirat, M., 2015. Corporate social responsibility in the oil and gas industry in Qatar
perceptions and practices. Public Relations Review, 41(4), pp.438-446.
Paterson, J., 2017. Behind the Mask: Regulating health and safety in Britain's offshore oil
and gas industry. Routledge.
Raufflet, E., Cruz, L.B. and Bres, L., 2014. An assessment of corporate social responsibility
practices in the mining and oil and gas industries. Journal of Cleaner production, 84, pp.256-
270.
Sujan, M.A., Habli, I., Kelly, T.P., Pozzi, S. and Johnson, C.W., 2016. Should healthcare
providers do safety cases? Lessons from a cross-industry review of safety case
practices. Safety science, 84, pp.181-189.
Villa, V., Paltrinieri, N., Khan, F. and Cozzani, V., 2016. Towards dynamic risk analysis: A
review of the risk assessment approach and its limitations in the chemical process
industry. Safety science, 89, pp.77-93.
Werner, A.K., Vink, S., Watt, K. and Jagals, P., 2015. Environmental health impacts of
unconventional natural gas development: a review of the current strength of
evidence. Science of the Total Environment, 505, pp.1127-1141.

14REFLECTIONS ON HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES
Witter, R.Z., Tenney, L., Clark, S. and Newman, L.S., 2014. Occupational exposures in the
oil and gas extraction industry: State of the science and research recommendations. American
journal of industrial medicine, 57(7), pp.847-856.
Zirogiannis, N., Alcorn, J., Rupp, J., Carley, S. and Graham, J.D., 2016. State regulation of
unconventional gas development in the US: an empirical evaluation. Energy Research &
Social Science, 11, pp.142-154.