Reducing Injuries and Fatalities to Oil and Gas Workers with Innovative Engineering Methods
[1]
Richard Olawoyin, Department of Environmental Health and Safety, Oakland University, Rochester, USA.
[2]
Myrna Gutierrez, Department of Environmental Health and Safety, Oakland University, Rochester, USA.
The issues of fatalities from fires and explosions in the oil and gas industry were explored and the study attempts to determine the potential solutions to these problems through innovative engineering technology. The industry sector being addressed is the oil and gas industry and the cross-sector addressed is the traumatic injury prevention cross-sector through the research of the reduction of fatalities from fires and explosions. The expected outputs and outcomes from this research are the invention and patents of cost effective new technology and adoption of technologies and methods developed for small drilling companies. The goal and end outcomes and public health impact from this research include the reduction and prevention of explosions and fires and thus reducing workplace injuries and fatalities in the oil and gas industry through cost effective engineering methods. Engineering methods were evaluated to build a gas and vapor detection system with detection methods based on the technology of nanosensors, that can be engineered to automatically supply over pressured areas with a spray or mist deluge system to suppress and prevent an explosion or fire. The study concluded that there is a need to address fatalities from fires and explosions in the oil and gas industry and that small drilling companies need more solutions that rely on engineering controls. Research and development of nanosensing technology for the detection of oil and gas vapor and suppression system of an automatic deluge system can provide small drilling companies with a cost-effective solution to preventing fatalities from fires and explosions.
Fire and Explosion Prevention, Fatalities, Engineering, Fire Safety, Oil and Gas, Fire Detection, Fire Suppression
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