Oil and Gas

How Mid-Market Teams Digitally Tackle Supply Chain Disruptions

Mid-Market Teams Digitally Tackle Supply Chain Disruptions Feature Image
Posted on by Juanita Martinaglia

How Mid-Market Teams Digitally Tackle Supply Chain Disruptions

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Mid-Market Teams Digitally Tackle Supply Chain Disruptions Feature Image

Supply chain disruptions continue to challenge businesses worldwide, with mid-market manufacturers often feeling particular strain. With fewer backup suppliers and tighter inventory buffers, a single delay in shipments or a shortage of critical materials can bring projects to a halt.

For mid-market teams, staying resilient isn’t just about reacting when things go wrong. It’s about using digital tools to gain visibility across the supply chain, track materials in real time, and spot potential disruptions before they escalate. Solutions like GoCanvas® help companies manage inventory, maintain strong relationships with suppliers, and keep projects moving despite uncertainty.

What Is Supply Chain Disruption and Why Does It Happen?

Supply chain disruption happens when the normal flow of goods across the supply chain is interrupted, leading to delays, shortages, and/or unexpected costs. Causes of supply chain disruption vary widely and can include:

  • Natural disasters and extreme weather events
  • Geopolitical instability
  • Labor shortages that slow production and shipping
  • Bottlenecks in maritime shipping, like the Suez Canal blockage
  • Sudden changes in global trade policies, including new tariffs

Modern global supply chains are tightly connected and highly dependent on specific suppliers and regions. This means a halt in production can ripple quickly across the supply chain, leading to delays and increased costs for businesses trying to meet demand for certain products.

The Impact of Supply Chain Disruptions on Project Timelines and Costs

When disruptions in the supply chain occur, the effects on project timelines and costs can be immediate and severe. Businesses often face:

  • Delayed deliveries or shortages of critical materials
  • Halts in production or full project shutdowns
  • Increased costs driven by price volatility and expedited shipping fees
  • The need to source materials from alternative suppliers
  • Reduced operational efficiency as teams shift focus to problem-solving

For mid-market companies with less inventory buffer and fewer supplier relationships, these disruptions pose a greater risk to business continuity and profitability.

Emerging Technologies Reduce Risk and Instability in Supply Chains

Emerging technologies play a growing role in helping businesses build a more resilient supply chain. Predictive analytics can identify potential disruptions before they escalate, giving supply chain executives time to adjust strategies and diversify suppliers.

New technologies, such as monitoring and reporting platforms, improve visibility across the supply chain, helping companies respond quickly when external factors threaten the flow of materials. Digital tools also support better coordination with supply chain partners, facilitating faster decisions during times of disruption.

The adoption of new technologies allows businesses to mitigate disruption risks and maintain operational efficiency, even when faced with unexpected challenges.

Real-Time Data Matters for Proactive Supply Chain Management

Real-time insights are important for proactive supply chain management. Instead of reacting after a disruptive event has already caused delays, businesses with real-time data can:

  • Detect bottlenecks in shipping or production.
  • Monitor inventory levels to avoid sudden shortages.
  • Track shipments as they happen for better visibility.
  • Reallocate resources quickly to keep projects on schedule.
  • Adjust strategies based on current conditions.

Real-time field data collection also improves communication with stakeholders across the supply chain, allowing faster responses to changing conditions and reducing the overall impact of disruptions.

ESG Goals Influence Supply Chain Disruption and Risk Management

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals increasingly shape how companies manage supply chain disruptions. Businesses are under pressure to ensure compliance with new laws, reduce environmental impact, and maintain ethical relationships with suppliers.

Meeting these targets can sometimes limit sourcing options, making supply chains more vulnerable if a disruptive event occurs. However, companies committed to ESG practices are also investing in sustainable sourcing strategies, building resilient supply chains that can withstand external factors like extreme weather or geopolitical changes.

Balancing ESG commitments with risk mitigation efforts has become a key priority for supply chain executives looking to protect both business continuity and corporate reputation.

Improve Procurement and Inventory Visibility to Handle Disruption in the Supply Chain

Procurement teams play a crucial role in managing supply chain disruptions. Better inventory management helps businesses avoid unexpected shortages and respond quickly when problems arise. With modern tools, procurement professionals can:

  • Access insights about supplier performance.
  • Track shipment progress and delivery timelines.
  • Monitor inventory levels to anticipate potential disruptions.
  • Build stronger relationships with suppliers to facilitate better collaboration.
  • Identify alternative sources quickly when needed.

Mid-market companies particularly benefit from these tools because they often can’t afford large inventory buffers. For these organizations, improved visibility enables faster decisions and more efficient responses when disruptive events threaten the flow of goods.

How GoCanvas Helps Mid-Market Teams Navigate Supply Chain Challenges

Mid-market businesses often operate with tighter resources and less margin for error. GoCanvas helps these companies navigate supply chain challenges by giving them digital tools to capture data from the field.

Mobile forms and digital records let teams track materials, monitor inventory levels, and share updates with stakeholders across the supply chain. This transparency helps businesses react quickly when disruptions threaten timelines or budgets.

Request a demo today to learn how GoCanvas can support proactive risk mitigation, improve efficiency and effectiveness, and help companies keep projects moving in times of uncertainty.

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas®, part of the Nemetschek Group, is an all-in-one digital solution that transforms the way businesses connect their office and field teams. Our user-friendly platforms simplify and streamline tasks like scheduling, dispatch, inspections, daily reports, work orders, and invoicing—digitizing paper processes to enhance safety and ensuring maximum compliance with industry standards.

Like a Swiss Army knife for the field, it’s versatile, reliable, and built to handle any task—letting you focus on the work that matters.

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Top 5 Use Cases for GoCanvas in the Construction Industry

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Posted on by GoCanvas Team

Top 5 Use Cases for GoCanvas in the Construction Industry

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Top 5 Cases for GoCanvas Feature Image

Construction companies face a unique set of challenges, like dynamic jobsites, evolving regulations, and relentless pressure to deliver on time and on budget. But here’s the real danger: Construction accounts for 19% of all U.S. worker deaths, according to OSHA. Sixty-five percent of those fatalities stem from just four preventable causes: falls, electrocution, struck-by incidents, and caught-in/between hazards. Amid these risks, paperwork plays a critical role in safety, compliance, and project delivery. Yet traditional methods can slow down field teams and create costly mistakes.

These challenges are where the top use cases for GoCanvas® come into play. From daily logs and timecards to inspections and safety checklists, GoCanvas helps construction businesses replace paperwork with mobile-first solutions that improve accuracy, boost compliance, and keep crews safe. In this article, we’ll explore the five most powerful ways construction firms are using GoCanvas to streamline operations and protect their teams, backed by real-world results.

1. Construction Inspection Forms

Regular inspections are fundamental to every construction project, as accurate inspection records ensure that projects meet safety, regulatory, and quality standards. Using a digital construction inspection form with GoCanvas, field teams can capture photos, notes, and signatures directly on their mobile devices. The data syncs instantly with the office, eliminating delays caused by paperwork and reducing the risk of missed items. Digital inspection forms also make it easy to generate reports for clients or regulatory bodies, supporting a smooth compliance process.

2. Construction Daily Log Forms

Daily logs are essential for tracking site activities, weather conditions, delays, and completed work. Paper-based logbooks are prone to incomplete entries or errors, so GoCanvas offers construction daily log forms that allow supervisors to record information in real time. Automated timestamps, digital signatures, and the ability to attach images make documentation accurate and auditable. This helps managers monitor project progress, address issues quickly, and maintain a transparent record for dispute resolution or audits.

3. Timecards and Crew Management

Managing labor costs and payroll is a complex task, especially when crews are spread across multiple jobsites. With GoCanvas, foremen and supervisors can collect timecard data on mobile devices, recording hours worked, breaks, and job codes. This data can be exported directly to payroll or project management systems, eliminating manual entry and reducing payroll errors. As a result, companies gain better visibility into labor costs and ensure accurate, timely compensation for their teams.

4. Safety and Compliance Checklists

The construction industry faces significant safety challenges. According to OSHA data, construction accounts for 19% of all worker deaths in the United States. Effective safety management and compliance are critical to reducing these risks. GoCanvas helps companies meet compliance and safety requirements by digitizing safety checklists, incident reports, and toolbox talks. Employees can complete forms quickly from the field, attach supporting photos, and submit reports immediately. Centralized digital records make audits and safety reviews more efficient and support a proactive approach to workplace safety. For construction leaders, having immediate access to accurate safety data can make a real difference in preventing incidents and protecting workers.

5. Equipment and Asset Tracking

Construction sites rely on a variety of equipment, from heavy machinery to handheld tools, and keeping track of these assets is critical for maintaining productivity and preventing losses. With this in mind, GoCanvas enables field teams to log equipment usage, inspections, and maintenance requests in real time. Digital records help prevent equipment downtime, support preventative maintenance programs, and improve accountability for tools and assets across sites.

Benefits for Construction Firms

By adopting digital solutions for these five use cases, construction firms can significantly reduce administrative burdens, improve accuracy, and strengthen collaboration between field and office teams. The transition to digital forms with GoCanvas does not require extensive IT resources and can be tailored to fit unique workflows.

Getting Started with Digital Transformation

Moving to digital solutions does not require a major overhaul of your business systems. On the contrary, GoCanvas supports easy customization and integration with your existing workflows. Most organizations can implement digital solutions with minimal disruption and start realizing benefits immediately.

For construction businesses evaluating new technology, consider the following steps:

  • Identify your most common or highest-risk forms and processes.
  • Start with a pilot project on a single site or team.
  • Train staff using GoCanvas templates and support resources.
  • Integrate data with your core systems for payroll, project management, or compliance.

The GoCanvas use cases detailed in this article are already transforming how leading construction companies operate. For a closer look at how GoCanvas can work for your business, request a demo today.

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas®, part of the Nemetschek Group, is an all-in-one digital solution that transforms the way businesses connect their office and field teams. Our user-friendly platforms simplify and streamline tasks like scheduling, dispatch, inspections, daily reports, work orders, and invoicing—digitizing paper processes to enhance safety and ensuring maximum compliance with industry standards.

Like a Swiss Army knife for the field, it’s versatile, reliable, and built to handle any task—letting you focus on the work that matters.

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Oil and Gas Worksite Safety: Fire and Explosion Risk Mitigation

Oil and Gas Worksite Safety Explosion Risk Mitigiation
Posted on by GoCanvas Team

Oil and Gas Worksite Safety: Fire and Explosion Risk Mitigation

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The oil and gas industry, which is fraught with inherent hazards, places the utmost importance on protecting workers from fire and explosion. As a vital part of the global economy, this sector acknowledges that every safety decision has wide-reaching implications. The industry’s integration of mobile technology in safety management is not just a leap toward operational efficiency but also a significant step in creating a more cohesive and secure working environment.

The Critical Role of Safety in Oil and Gas Worksites

Maintaining safety in the oil and gas industry is a complex challenge, given the nature of the work and the environments in which it takes place. Fire and explosion hazards are among the most significant risks, requiring constant vigilance and robust safety measures. Notably marked by incidents such as the Deepwater Horizon disaster, the industry’s history serves as a continuous reminder of the potential consequences of avoidable safety oversights. These events have catalyzed the industry to re-evaluate and strengthen safety protocols, ensuring they are comprehensive and responsive to the complexities of modern oil and gas operations.

Implementing Comprehensive Safety Plans

Developing a comprehensive safety plan in the oil and gas industry demands a multifaceted approach that intertwines passive and active protection measures. Passive measures are foundational to this strategy, encompassing structural fire-resistant designs and the strategic segregation of high-risk areas to mitigate potential incidents. These measures are essential in creating a safe baseline environment and minimizing risks even before they arise.

Active measures, on the other hand, are dynamic: They involve continuous worker training, regular emergency response drills, and stringent maintenance protocols. Their aim is to ensure that personnel are not only aware of potential hazards but also adequately prepared to respond effectively in emergencies.

The integration of mobile technology plays a pivotal role in tying these elements together by supporting the effective implementation, monitoring, and ongoing refinement of safety protocols. By leveraging mobile technology, real-time data collection and analysis become possible, thereby enhancing every level of the decision-making processes.

Revolutionizing Safety With Mobile Technology in the Oil and Gas Industry

Mobile technology has significantly changed safety management in the oil and gas industry, replacing paper-based methods with dynamic digital solutions. This shift enables rapid adaptability to changing conditions—a critical feature in an environment where safety needs are constantly evolving. Real-time data processing and communication are central to this change, enhancing hazard management and emergency responsiveness.

Technological advancement also deepens the industry’s safety culture. It simplifies safety procedures, making them more accessible and encouraging wider participation across all workforce levels. This collective engagement is pivotal for a sustained commitment to safety.

Using Data to Identify and Mitigate Risks at Worksites

The ability of mobile technology to collect, analyze, and effectively utilize data in the form of analytics transforms the way safety risks are handled. With this approach, safety managers can proactively identify potential hazards and implement targeted preventive measures. Employing data in this manner moves the industry’s risk management from a reactive stance to a proactive approach, significantly reducing the likelihood of accidents while enhancing overall worksite safety.

Enhance Regular Training and Drills With Digital Tracking

Consistent training and regular emergency response drills are integral to maintaining high safety standards in the oil and gas industry. Mobile technology enhances these training programs by streamlining the organization and execution of sessions and drills. It offers an efficient means to track participation and evaluate the effectiveness of each activity, ensuring both systematic and comprehensive training.

Mobile technology also plays a crucial role in assessing the success of safety training. It allows for the collection of feedback and analysis of drill performance, pinpointing areas for improvement. This ensures that personnel are not only familiar with the latest safety procedures but can also apply them effectively in real-world scenarios. 

Simplify Inspections and Recordkeeping With Real-Time Data Capture and Transfer

Traditionally, recordkeeping and safety inspections in the oil and gas industry have been labor-intensive and prone to errors. However, the introduction of mobile data collection apps has revolutionized these aspects of worksite safety. The use of technology streamlines processes and lays a solid foundation for enhanced recordkeeping and inspections. 

Fire inspection software platforms like GoCanvas facilitate efficient, accurate, and real-time management of safety procedures. The reliability, accessibility, and timeliness of safety records—which are crucial for upholding high safety standards in the face of oil and gas worksite hazards—are significantly improved in dynamic and hazardous environments.

Using Mobile Technology to Enhance Communication and Response in Remote Areas

One significant advantage of mobile technology over traditional methods is its ability to improve communication. In remote areas where clear and consistent communication is crucial, mobile technology offers reliable connections. This capability is essential for maintaining safe and efficient operations, especially in areas where traditional communication methods are inadequate or nonexistent.

Utilizing Data for Quick, Informed Decision-Making

The ability to instantly access accurate safety data is a critical advantage of mobile technology. In emergency situations where rapid decision-making is required, having the latest safety rules and information available on mobile devices is invaluable. This capability significantly reduces risks and enhances the management of incidents, making mobile technology a game-changer in risk mitigation.

Embracing the Future of Safety in Oil & Gas Operations

The integration of mobile technology into fire and explosion risk management marks a turning point in the oil and gas industry. This evolution is more than a step toward enhancing worker safety; it’s a leap in operational efficiency and adaptability. As the industry navigates new challenges and continues to evolve, mobile technology is positioned to be a key player in elevating safety standards and is expected to serve an increasingly vital role in the industry’s future. This technology is not just keeping pace with industry needs but shaping a safer, more efficient future for oil and gas operations worldwide.

Drill Deeper Into Technology’s Role in Oil and Gas Safety

Our e-book, “5 Common Hazards in Oil and Gas Extraction and How to Address Them,” is packed with insights to help prevent fire and explosion risks at your worksite and ensure the safety of your workers.

What will you find in this e-book?

  • In-depth analysis of the most prevalent safety hazards in the oil and gas industry
  • Guidance on evaluating the safety design of your rig or well, with an emphasis on safety training and equipment maintenance
  • Practical tips for leveraging mobile technology to analyze and enhance your existing safety systems

This e-book is an essential resource for anyone looking to fortify their safety measures in the oil and gas sector. Don’t miss out on valuable insights — download your copy now and take a significant step toward a safer, more technologically advanced worksite.

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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What Is a Confined Space Safety Plan, and Why Is it Essential?

Posted on by GoCanvas Team

What Is a Confined Space Safety Plan, and Why Is it Essential?

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The have significant workplace hazards, and confined spaces are often the riskiest places on a job site. Working in confined spaces is often essential. That’s why companies must take steps to mitigate the hazards. A confined space safety plan is vital for efficient operations and the safety of your team.

What Is a Confined Space?

According to OSHA, the definition of a confined space is any space that isn’t designed for people, but workers can enter to do essential work when necessary. This can be any area where workers aren’t free to move about or react to danger. Examples include a cistern, tunnel, equipment housing, or pipeline.

The regulatory body further denotes potentially dangerous confined spaces as “permit-required confined space,” or just “permit space” for short. These permit spaces include areas where a confined space poses additional risks to a worker. A permit space includes areas that could potentially trap or injure a worker, contain harmful chemicals, or don’t allow for easy escape.

All confined spaces must be approached with a thorough safety plan. However, permit-required confined spaces can be serious workplace hazards. Precautions must always be taken. OSHA and other regulatory agencies enforce certain safety measures in permit space.

Working in Confined Spaces

All employees who work in confined spaces must be thoroughly trained on the potential hazards and all the safety precautions available to them. While some work in confined spaces may be quick and urgent, ensure only workers trained to work in those conditions enter. Accidents are disruptive to the flow of your operation. More importantly, though, your workers have a right to a safe workplace.

Before entering any confined space, inspect the area to ensure all safety equipment is in place and functioning properly and that there are no unexpected hazards. Tests on temperature and oxygen levels should also be routine before work begins.

Once inside a confined space, the worker should maintain contact with a trained attendant the entire time. This can be done visually with a camera feed or by voice for permit space with an opening. It can also easily be accomplished with radios. While working, the technician should continue to update the attendant on their status. As they work, they should verify full function of any safety equipment like full protection, ventilation, and lighting. In many situations, the attendant can also monitor some of these factors outside the confined space. 

The procedure should always be followed in confined spaces, and there should always be redundant steps to verify a safe working environment. Gauges and monitoring software should not be implicitly trusted, but instead verified for accuracy continually.

Planning for Safety

To ensure safety and smooth operations, every operation needs a well-crafted plan for working in confined spaces. The plan you use shouldn’t be a generalized solution. Instead, have specific measures for the confined spaces your workers face daily. Each space should have a plan specific to its particular hazards. Additionally, only workers trained in that space and its safety plan should be allowed inside.

When creating your safety plan, start with a thorough inspection of any confined spaces. Identify potential hazards and conditions that could complicate movement or safety precautions. Consider the type of work that may be done in the space. Lastly, create a checklist that verifies the safety of the space for workers before entry.

This is a start, but a comprehensive safety plan continually evolves to ensure the safest working environment possible. Learn from any unexpected hazards that present themselves in confined spaces, and continually update your safety plan. A hazard that occurs once will likely happen again. Therefore, adapt your safety measures to provide the best protection for your workers.

Always Stick to the Plan

If your safety plan for confined spaces isn’t followed, it does nothing to protect your workers. Furthermore, if safety precautions are being ignored in the most dangerous areas of your operation, you’re not providing the legally required protections to workers. 

A culture of safety doesn’t happen overnight. Your workers need to know that safety is important, and the safety plan for confined spaces is non-negotiable. Supervisors in your operation should all be thoroughly trained on each safety plan, as well as on the importance of following them every time.

Culture flows from the top down, typically. As your workers see that it’s important to their supervisors, they will care more about the safety plan.

Record Compliance

To ensure your safety plan for confined spaces is followed, keep logs of every activity in confined spaces. Workers should document who entered when and why every time work is conducted. This lets you know that your workers are taking safety seriously. In addition, this approach compiles a record of compliance for any inspectors. As your safety plan is implemented, records let you see any changes that need to be made.

Only authorized and trained workers should be working in confined spaces. Ensure they are entirely comfortable with the process and can document their work and any comments on the plan every time. Remember to get feedback from those workers on the plan, as they are your best resource for knowing when changes need to be made.

Automate Safety Plans with GoCanvas

Safety is about consistency and attention to detail. With any safety plan for working in a confined space, your workers need to be consistent every time in the precautions they take. 

At the same time, you don’t want to create extra work for your team that could cause them to waste time or skip essential safety steps. With GoCanvas, you can automate your safety plan so that staying safe is straightforward for your workers.With GoCanvas, you can create custom mobile forms to automate your safety process without being a tech guru. GoCanvas makes it easy for your workers to stay compliant and safe. Come see how our confined space safety plan support can make your operation safer and smoother today!

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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Solutions to Waste Management Issues For Oil & Gas Companies

Posted on by GoCanvas Team

Solutions to Waste Management Issues For Oil & Gas Companies

Waste management compliance is important in every industry. The oil and gas industry, in particular, has a strong risk of waste emissions. Therefore, it’s vital for companies to understand how to manage drilling waste management, improve disposal of unwanted materials, and decrease unnecessary waste across the organization. 

Why Waste Management is Important in the Oil and Gas Industry

Waste management in the oil and gas industry is critical for a number of reasons. 

1. Protect Natural Resources

Oil and natural gas are vital natural resources. However, they are limited. By improving waste management practices, oil and gas companies can protect those natural resources and help them last longer. 

2. Reduce Pollution

The oil and natural gas industries may emit a number of pollutants, including methane, VOCs, and pollutant chemicals known or suspected to cause cancer. By improving waste management strategies, the oil and gas industry can decrease the pollutants released by its activities. 

3. Save Money and Resources

By improving waste management practices, many oil and gas companies find that they are able to protect money and resources, a critical element in the oil industry as prices remain volatile. In many cases, decreasing waste can help produce more output from the same resources the company already has. Or, in many cases, they can decrease the costs necessary to produce the same outcome. 

What are the 4 Types of Waste Management?

There are four main types of waste management practices. We’ve outlined the ones that most often impact the oil and gas industry.

1. Municipal Solid Waste

Municipal solid waste includes the general waste types produced by any business or, in many cases, homes. These may include paper and plastic products, metal and glass products, and other wastes generated from oil and gas containers. The oil and gas industry may generate solid wastes during the exploration process, due to the equipment used, during transport, or while storing oil and gas for future consumption. 

2. Industrial Solid Waste

Industrial solid waste can take a number of forms that may include higher overall levels of toxicity. In industry in general, including the oil and gas sector, many businesses use more dangerous chemicals and solvents than private homeowners typically use. In the oil and gas industry, that may mean different types of waste depending on the stage of the process.

For example, oil and gas exploration companies often deal with drilling fluids and cuttings that may be contaminated with chemicals. As a result, it’s impossible to return them back to the general water supply or to store them with general waste. 

3. Agricultural Waste and Residue

Most of the time, the oil and gas industry does not have to worry about agricultural waste, which is produced due to the byproducts of livestock or farming. However, residue from oil and gas production efforts may mingle with nearby agricultural waste in some settings. 

4. Hazardous Waste

The oil and gas industry may produce a great deal of hazardous waste during the normal course of operations. Those normal processes may lead to wastes that include:

  • Arsenic
  • Lead
  • Chromium
  • Mercury
  • Cadmium
  • Benzene

All these substances can be considered toxic when exposure occurs in high quantities. They may have an impact both on the environment and on the people interacting with them on a regular basis. As a result, the oil and gas industry must take several steps to ensure the proper disposal of those dangerous substances. 

Waste Disposal Regulations in the Oil and Gas Industry

The disposal of waste in the oil and gas industry is regulated heavily at both the federal and state levels. Because of the heavy amount of waste produced by the drilling and production processes, oil and natural gas companies may need to carefully consider their environmental impact before, during, and after drilling.

The RCRA

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act helps regulate underground storage tanks and the disposal of solid or hazardous waste. It creates regulations at the federal level and encourages states to create their own individual regulations. 

Hazardous waste, under the RCRA, may include:

  • Ignitable waste
  • Corrosive waste
  • Toxic waste
  • Acute hazardous waste
  • Reactive waste

The RCRA has a “cradle to grave” regulation scheme that regulates the production, use, and disposal of hazardous waste at every stage of the process. At the disposal level, it prohibits anything that may discharge, inject, spill, or leak into the air, water, or ground. That means that hazardous waste from oil and gas production needs to be disposed of in proper landfills, rather than in open dumps. 

State Permits

In most states, oil and gas companies, like other companies, must have a state permit to dispose of hazardous waste. Each state has the right to decide what those permits include and how they are created. In many cases, oil and gas companies, due to their economic and energy-related necessity, are exempt from many of the processes required of other businesses and industries. However, each state sets its own regulations, which may vary dramatically from one to the next. 

Voluntary Management Practices

The EPA also issues specific voluntary management

  • Liners
  • Leak detection systems
  • Maintaining and using a pit for waste disposal
  • Regulations for the transportation of waste
  • Secondary protection of water tanks used in the cooling or production process

By following the best practices for voluntary management, oil and gas companies can substantially reduce the environmental impact due to hazardous waste produced throughout the process. Following those best practices can also help protect the company in the future.

Waste management for the oil and gas industry can be particularly challenging. By following essential industry regulations and best practices, however, oil and gas companies can reduce their impact, decrease waste, and ultimately create a more successful return on their investment.

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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Manage Risk for Oil and Gas Companies With a Risk Assessment Checklist

Posted on by GoCanvas Team

Manage Risk for Oil and Gas Companies With a Risk Assessment Checklist

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Today, the challenges faced by the oil and gas industry are considerable. Effective business leaders and managers must thoroughly understand them to determine and implement the most effective risk management strategies for their company. There are several commonly recognized best practices for risk management in the oil and gas industry. However, no one-size-fits-all approach will mitigate all actual and potential vulnerabilities. Each company is unique and requires its own customized risk assessment checklist that, at minimum, addresses the following areas:   

  • Supply, demand, and market dynamics
  • Worker health and safety
  • Environmental impact
  • Cybersecurity

A broad understanding of these vulnerabilities can help businesses pinpoint specific areas they need to address.

Supply, Demand, and Market Dynamics

The market for oil and gas is often quite volatile. Sudden changes in regional economies, wars, or public health can dramatically increase or decrease the supply or demand for oil in a matter of days. And when these shocks occur, the entire industry – including equipment, transport, storage, refining, training, marketing, and software businesses – feels the effects.

Moreover, the industry is highly regulated in most parts of the world, with new laws and regulations expected to continue to emerge. Additionally, many countries are moving to curtail greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to combat climate change. As a result, nations and multinational organizations are drafting and implementing regulations which will continue to affect both the supply of and demand for oil and gas. And some industries, most notably the automobile industry, are shifting production away from gas-powered products to those powered by alternative fuel sources.

A single weather event in a key region could affect a company’s output or demand. So, it’s essential for oil and gas business leaders to carefully assess all the elements of their supply chain and customer base. It’s just as critical to monitor events continuously. This approach allows adjustments to be made, and new plans developed in real-time to help navigate the market’s inherent volatility.

Furthermore, oil and gas prices in commodities markets are dynamic. That means oil and gas companies must hedge their risks using certain investing strategies. Leveraging derivatives, such as futures, swaps, forwards, and options, can offset the losses a company may face that see a sudden drop in demand. However, these strategies come with their own risks and must be executed carefully.

Worker Health and Safety

While the use of machines and automated tools has helped increase worker safety considerably, oil and gas extraction is still quite dangerous. The work is long, and the working conditions are difficult. And no matter how sophisticated and rugged the machinery is in use, it can break down, resulting in injured workers, making an extraction even more difficult.

Oil and gas companies must design and implement solid worker health and safety plans that cover every aspect of their operation. Doing so is not just a matter of morality and productivity. The federal government requires it. Failing to comply with safety standards exposes companies to serious legal liability.

Part of any effective health and safety plan includes continuous monitoring of worksites, equipment, and conditions. Doing so helps managers identify and remediate safety issues before those issues cause equipment damage or result in injuries. Federal regulations also require businesses to report workplace safety incidents that result in illness or injury. Failing to comply or complying inconsistently introduces considerable legal risks.

Environmental Impact

Broadly, the energy sector has an outsized impact on the environment relative to most other industries. Oil and gas extraction, refining, and distribution result in GHG emissions. However, industry operations also come with the risk of oil spills, the need to dispose of hazardous waste, and other effects. And even if a vendor is directly responsible for an accident, it can be hard for a prominent oil or gas company to avoid taking the blame in the eyes of the public.

There’s also increasing scrutiny of whether companies operate sustainably. What once were esoteric and internal business processes are now regularly dissected on blogs and websites. Some companies have found it more difficult to do business because they directly or indirectly have a substantial negative impact on the environment.

Cybersecurity Risks

Of the four areas of risk management outlined, cybersecurity is the most recent. However, it also potentially poses the greatest risk. Cyber threats continue to grow in scale and scope, threatening businesses and organizations of all sizes and industries. Criminals will target any business from which they believe they can extract a ransom. But the oil and gas industry is also vulnerable to hacking attempts from more than just thieves.

Nation-state and non-nation-state actors have increasingly targeted the oil and gas industry and other critical infrastructure industries for geopolitical advantage. Some attacks are tied to armed conflicts, as oil and gas are critical wartime supplies. And in a global market, some hackers seek trade secrets on behalf of foreign interests.

Oil and gas companies have embraced new digital operational equipment that leverages robotics, machine learning, automation, and the Internet of Things (IoT). With that transformation comes new vulnerabilities. While business efficiency and productivity improve with digitization, potential access points increase. It’s true that hackers can steal corporate data in other industries. However, hackers infiltrating oil and gas networks can also deliberately or inadvertently cause significant physical and environmental incidents. These directly compromise worker safety and the environment.

Companies across the globe are in a fierce talent war for cybersecurity professionals. Oil and gas companies must also recruit and retain talented staff who can stay on top of emerging threats within the context of a unique and highly dynamic sector. These threats do not include outside actors. Instead, they involve internal threats from negligent or disgruntled employees.

Risk Management in the Oil and Gas Industry

Risk management in the oil and gas industry requires business leaders and managers to understand them and use the appropriate tools to evaluate them. Oil and gas companies need the right risk assessment checklist to help them evaluate the unique threats their firm faces. The GoCanvas team has created an effective risk assessment checklist to help you comprehensively assess your worksites.

Liability issues stemming from worker injuries aren’t the only worker health and safety issues leaders and managers must address. Some worker safety issues are a direct result of worker stress. And in an industry distinguished by hard work under tough conditions, businesses must evaluate and mitigate employee stress to mitigate the risk of workplace accidents.

GoCanvas also has developed a stress managers risk assessment tool that can help you gain invaluable insight into how your employees are faring and help you manage risk.

These are just two of the tools that GoCanvas offers business leaders and managers in the oil and gas industry. Our products are aligned with federal OSHA standards and easily customizable to fit your business needs. Visit GoCanvas to learn more about safeguarding your business from market, operational, and organizational risks today.

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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High Safety Standards Equals More Clients For Drilling Contractors

Posted on by GoCanvas Team

High Safety Standards Equals More Clients For Drilling Contractors

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The oil and gas industry comes with many safety risks. However, drilling contractors can mitigate them with the right safety program. High safety standards can go a long way in creating a safe environment for employees and visitors while helping to maintain efficient operations. However, as a drilling contractor, you might not know exactly how to maximize safety in the workplace.

Here we’ll explore the benefits of having a clear safety record and how you can facilitate one with the right safety measures.

How a Spotless Safety Record Benefits Drilling Contractors

Several benefits make high safety standards important to a drilling contractor and an operator. These benefits include the following:

More Business Opportunities

If drilling contractors have safety programs that maintain a consistently safe workplace, this will lead to an increase in business opportunities. Potential partners will be more inclined to work with drilling contractors who have a reliable safety program in place. This protects workers. However, it also helps ensure operations run smoothly throughout each project. As a result, operators and contractors will maintain a better relationship that keeps them in business in the long term.

Saved Money

Reliable safety measures also help save money. This is accomplished by preventing potentially costly workplace incidents. Workers stay safer, increasing productivity while helping you avoid potentially expensive legal issues due to avoidable work-related injuries. You’ll also be able to prevent equipment breakdowns that might otherwise set you back while putting employees at risk. In the end, you’ll experience cost savings as you keep your work environment safe and efficient with a solid safety program.

Improved Workforce Safety

A good safety program will also promote increased workforce safety in a number of ways. Training for both contractors and operators will help keep workers safer on a regular basis. Workers will understand how to properly prevent workplace accidents and handle equipment safely to avoid potential issues. A healthier workforce is also a happier one. It leads to an increase in productivity that keeps operations running as they should.

Steps for Ensuring Safety in the Oil and Gas Industry

There are many steps you can take to implement a safety program that keeps your workplace consistently safe and secure. For example, you can:

Understand All Safety Protocols Before Beginning Work

One of the best steps is to know all safety protocols and requirements before work begins. You can ensure this by undergoing full training by site safety coordinators who can detail all necessary steps.

Wear the Right Protective Gear

Another critical step is to wear sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) that keeps all workers safe on the job. There are many pieces of PPE. Be sure to equip employees with safety goggles, hard hats, apparel rated for the specific job, hearing protection, boots, and gloves. You should also ensure equipment inspections are routinely performed. Look for any wear and tear warranting replacement PPE, which will further keep workers safer at all times.

Prepare Dig Sites Properly

Before you begin digging, ensure you’ve identified and marked all utilities in the dig site. Also, if you need to build a trench, it’s important to adhere to the guidelines under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Otherwise, trenches can cave in and present other hazards to workers, such as mobile equipment hazards and falling loads.

Limit Mobile Device Usage

You should have a policy that helps regulate the use of personal electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets in the workplace. These types of devices can easily distract workers at the wrong moment, leading to potential accidents.

Use Proper Signage to Mark Hazards

If there are any hazards present that you cannot remove, clearly indicate these hazards with sufficient signage. For example, mark all overhead lines that could otherwise lead to electrocution if workers aren’t aware of their presence. 

Facilitate Necessary Breaks for Employees

You should enforce breaks to keep workers from fatigue, heat exhaustion, and other risks related to working long consecutive hours. Also, educate employees about the differences between heat exhaustion, heat stress, and heat stroke to give them a good understanding of the risks they face in drilling environments. Workers should take occasional breaks to recover and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Report All Unsafe Conditions

If you or workers witness any hazards, unsafe working conditions, or potentially dangerous acts on the part of employees or supervisors, it’s important to report these incidents. Doing so will alert those higher up and help ensure that steps are taken to mitigate safety risks with these dangers present.

Create an In-Depth Safety Checklist With a Maintenance Worksheet

You can also keep your workplace safer by developing and following a safety checklist. This checklist can include specific steps to take when checking and inspecting equipment, and other tasks that boost safety before work starts. Checklists also ensure maintenance crews properly complete each repair or replacement.

To help you build these checklists, you can use forms such as an equipment inspection and maintenance worksheet that optimizes the inspection and maintenance process. Specifically, GoCanvas can provide the forms you need to help perform all safety checks and maintenance tasks. These forms are paperless and work with any mobile devices, giving your teams access whenever they need them.

Keep Your Workplace Safe With Higher Safety Standards

By taking safety seriously, you’ll create a workplace that’s consistently safer and provides workers with the protection they need at all times. If you need help as a drilling contractor when implementing safety programs and protocols, GoCanvas can equip your business with efficient and thorough paperless forms.

You’ll find over 20,000 mobile forms at GoCanvas, including a range of equipment inspection and maintenance worksheets. As a result, you can automate safety checks and more effectively minimize the risk of incidents that could otherwise cause harm to workers and equipment.

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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How Often Should Industrial Rigging Inspections Be Performed?

Posted on by GoCanvas Team

How Often Should Industrial Rigging Inspections Be Performed?

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The numerous risks that come with rigging projects make it necessary to regularly inspect this equipment. Rig inspection will ensure your rigging equipment is consistently safe and compliant with industry rules and regulations. There are many pieces of rigging equipment to inspect, from slings and harnesses to hooks and hoists. 

Here we’ll explore what rig inspection is, how frequently you need these inspections, and how you can benefit from using rigging inspection forms to simplify inspections.

What Is Rig Inspection?

Rig inspection entails looking closely at and testing rigging equipment. The object is to make sure it’s properly maintained and presents minimal risk of mechanical failure and breakdowns. Rigging inspections are often required for equipment in the oil and gas industry. Professionals with experience conducting rig inspections are ideal for inspecting each component of a rig and gauging its condition and risks. 

How Often Do You Need To Inspect Rigging Equipment?

To keep rigging equipment in working order and prevent potential issues and non-compliance, it’s important to conduct rig inspections at key points throughout the equipment’s service life.

Specifically, you should conduct inspections during these times:

When Expecting Equipment Deliveries

The first inspection should occur ahead of the delivery of rigging equipment. As soon as the supplier ships it, and you prepare it for installation at the rig site, you should first inspect it to gauge the condition of each piece of equipment before use. 

Regularly for Extreme Applications

Some applications that put stress on rigging equipment and use it heavily will require more frequent inspections than other less demanding applications. Inspectors should look at the equipment before you use it. This is normally done through a routine visual inspection that takes place whenever you use it for a different shift or application. Depending on the intended use, this could require you to inspect equipment multiple times daily.

Periodically for All Equipment

If you don’t require more frequent inspections for hoisting and rigging systems, you will need to inspect equipment periodically according to standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Some equipment will need quarterly or even monthly inspections if it undergoes heavier use. Conversely, other less frequently used equipment may only require annual inspections. 

You will need to determine how frequently equipment requires inspections. This is based on the service conditions, frequency of use, the applications and frequency of application or shift changes, and other factors. Also, keep in mind that OSHA and ASME have different requirements for various components.

What Are the Four Main Components To Inspect on Your Rigging?

There are several pieces of rigging equipment that inspectors will need to look at when conducting a rig inspection. Four of these components to inspect include the following:

  • Rigging hooks and shackles: These components connect all rigging equipment such as ropes and chains to avoid slippage.
  • Slings: These parts help with lifting heavier loads using wire ropes.
  • Blocks and pulleys: These systems can help lift heavy objects by reducing the force required to move and lift these items.
  • Steel nuts and eye bolts: Rigging systems also use a combination of steel nuts and eye bolts to loop ropes and cables. They’re available in many sizes and a few different types. 

In addition to these components, rigging systems may use parts such as wire ropes, turnbuckles, lifting beams, and spreader bars. You can look up the inspection criteria for each by checking with OSHA and ASME. 

Who Should Inspect Rigging?

Different people can inspect rigging equipment, depending on the operation and application. For example, owners can inspect equipment periodically as needed based on OSHA and ASME regulations. Operators can also inspect equipment before each use. They can use inspection forms and tools that streamline the process, such as a sling inspection form template or a transload safety app.

Often, it’s best to designate a qualified rigger to conduct rig inspections as needed, which will keep inspections consistent and ensure the inspector gets accustomed to the inspection process. He or she can go through a complete checklist to properly inspect each piece of equipment.

OSHA and other organizations don’t require riggers to gain certification. However, this type of certification is often ideal to have. According to OSHA, a qualified rigger is someone who has gained sufficient experience or credentials demonstrating competence in this field. For instance, a qualified rigger may have worked as a rigger for many years and gained extensive knowledge, experience, and training. Another may have obtained a certificate, degree, or professional standing. Others may simply show that they can solve various rigging problems.

How Long Is a Rigging Cert Good for?

If a rigger decides to gain certification, the certification will last for five years in most cases. Exceptions to this include times when the certification serves as an extension to prior certification, in which case the certification will share the expiration date of the other certification. For instance, if a rigger first obtains rigger certification and then receives signal person certification before the rigger certification has expired, both will expire when the first five years end. 

How Mobile Forms and Apps Can Help With Rig Inspection

With the right approach, you can properly inspect and maintain rigging equipment to create a consistently safe and operational environment. However, it’s important to have the right tools to help you complete inspections. These include hook and sling inspection forms and various mobile apps that give inspectors everything they need. 

For some of the best solutions to help streamline the inspection process and maintain compliance and safety, turn to GoCanvas. We provide our customers with a range of rig inspection form templates and apps for all equipment types. You’ll find forms for transload safety checks, hoisting and rigging mobile forms, and more. 

Regardless of what you need to inspect in your rigging configurations, GoCanvas makes it easy to complete each inspection with consistent thoroughness and efficiency. Give your qualified riggers what they need to simplify inspections and minimize safety risks and the potential for equipment failure. Through the automation of inspections, you’ll benefit from cost savings and improved processes that keep operations running smoothly.

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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7 Best Oil and Gas Safety Apps

Posted on by GoCanvas Team

7 Best Oil and Gas Safety Apps

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The oil and gas industry is among the most dangerous industries for workers, with a fatality rate seven times higher than any other U.S. industry. Safety management in the oil and gas industry is a crucial part of operations and one in which every detail matters.

Working in this industry, in safety management or not, requires all individuals to be diligent and knowledgeable about the different safety risks associated with this field of work. Although it can be repetitive, thorough safety training is very important; management wants to know that crew members are complying to their safety training while on site. Stakeholders understand that occupational safety and staying environmentally compliant is not just the right thing to do, but also better for oil and gas businesses in the long run.

One of the best ways to improve oil and gas safety processes is through better data capture and standardization of processes on site.  Capturing data electronically through mobile apps (instead of on paper) gives management real-time business insights to ensure protocols are being met and ensures problems can be resolved quickly if not avoided entirely.

Here are several must-have oil and gas safety apps to track job site safety!

1. Rig Inspection Checklist

The Rig Inspection Checklist app helps ensure the operational integrity of your land rigs. By performing inspections in real time you can ensure your team is always in compliance with the latest regulations. This mobile inspection form lets you conduct drilling rig inspections on: personnel certifications, rig site accommodations, Gensets and engines, SCR room, accumulator, mud pumps, mud tanks and more. Since this Rig Inspection Checklist App is editable you can extend it to include workover rig inspections, drilling inspections, and equipment checklists.

2. Oil and Gas Drilling Safety Checklist

The Oil and Gas Drilling Safety Checklist App helps improve safety operations and performance. This app can be used for anyone is the oil and gas industry looking to improve safety measures and can be used even by those who are dedicated to the occupational health and safety of the job site. This app can be used not just to ensure industry compliance but can be used to entirely prevent worksite injuries for employees. Update this app template to include other particular topics including but not limited to site safety checklists and toolbox talks.

3. Daily Self Inspections

The Daily Self Inspection App helps ensure employees are taking the appropriate precautions when starting their day. In this app employees will be prompted to run through a variety of checklists related to accident prevention, DOT safety audits, hazardous conditions, PPE for employees and more. Once the form is completed the submission will automatically save for your records in accordance with OSHA and MSHA record keeping standards. With features such as required fields, photo capture, and offline capabilities management can ensure that workers have the right personal protective equipment on hand and that hazardous locations are secured before work begins each day.

4. Confined Space Hazards Assessment

The Confined Space Hazards Assessment App is used for pre-work audits to ensure site and environmental safety. Employees will be prompted to inspect atmospheric hazards, work-related hazards, confined space hazards, and human factors. As a supervisor of employees, define entry procedures for potential hazards for health and safety, such as ventilation leading to oxygen deficiency, engulfment hazards, atmospheric hazards, and physical hazards. As with all GoCanvas apps you can add or remove whatever you and your team find important.

5. MSHA Inspections or OSHA Inspections

Whether your business must comply with OSHA or MSHA regulations GoCanvas has hundreds of apps specific to these regulatory bodies. Every oil and gas business needs to ensure that their workplace is up to industry safety standards. These apps help make sure every safety form is not just accurate but also always accessible. Regular use of these inspection checklists can help reduce workplace injuries and keep the work area safe. These apps help both the employees and employers reduce the risk of injury and illnesses.

6. Emergency Response Plan

Proactive risk prevention is essential within the oil and gas industry. The Emergency Response Plan App helps management mitigate the impact of problems if in the off chance they do occur. To help your team feel comfortable with emergency readiness and preparation this app will help guide them through how management expects them to prepare. This app was created specifically for underground coal mine safety, but can be edited to fit whatever environment your team works in. As supervisors and safety professionals, identify where corrective actions are needed according to regulations and requirements as part of OSHA compliance.

7. Job Safety Analysis (Health and Safety Plan)

The Job Safety Analysis App helps staff identify project hazards and specify engineering and administrative controls and personal protective equipment necessary to mitigate the risks associated with these hazards. As new hazards are reported a JSA or JHA must be conducted to stay compliant with industry regulations. This app makes it so staff can submit these reports from their mobile device and assists in emergency response planning of the specific project.

Where does GoCanvas help in improving your oil and gas safety? GoCanvas offers each of these apps as templates that you can customize yourself…or we can help you do it! This automates the way information is captured in the field and makes it easy to deploy these apps through a single platform where data is stored centrally, users can easily be managed and results can be visualized in real-time.

Although increasingly more programs and products are created to promote employee safety, the effectiveness of these tools must be tracked and when it comes to safety the data needs to be real time so corrective action can be taken immediately. Automation is necessary to oversee inspections, performance, and maintain safety in oil and gas extraction with no lag time in communications. When situations arise in the field it is important to have tools in place to prevent and mitigate damage at a moment’s notice. Luckily, operators and contractors in the field can use mobile forms to monitor exposure of chemicals, metals, NORM, and more, then create programs to keep oil and natural gas drilling workers safe. Over 900+ mobile forms are available for the Mining, Quarry, Oil, Gas & Chemicals industry within the GoCanvas Application Store.

Want to learn more about how mobile technology and data can be used in the oil and gas industry?

Take a look at our new eBook, 4 Ways Big Data is Transforming Oil and Gas.

In it, you’ll learn:

  • How to predict when equipment will fail, and how best to structure your maintenance schedule
  • How data collection can help keep track of complex environmental regulations
  • How to enable quicker decision-making to improve worker safety and health
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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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4 Hidden Dangers in Oil and Gas Extraction

Posted on by GoCanvas Team

4 Hidden Dangers in Oil and Gas Extraction

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4 Hidden Dangers in Oil and Gas ExtractionOf course you want your oil and gas employees working out in the field to stay safe and healthy. But that can be difficult given the hidden hazards and oil and gas extraction dangers that exist — not to mention the known hazards that frequently aren’t properly assessed and can go undetected in oil and gas extraction.

Here are four hidden dangers in oil and gas extraction to put on the radar of your oil companies, and some ways that you can harness the power of mobile technology to identify risk, measure exposure, and keep your workers safe from harm.

1. Drilling Fluids

During oil drilling, fluids are circulated through the well and through systems that can be open, partially enclosed, or fully enclosed.

It’s well known that these fluids, when released into the environment, can cause groundwater contamination — so most companies have strict controls in place to prevent leaks. But these fluids, which often have trace amounts of hydrocarbons in them, can also cause health and safety issues among your workers.

Health effects from exposure to drilling fluids include dizziness, headaches, drowsiness, nausea, inflammation of the respiratory system, and even an increased risk of cancer.

Employees can be exposed while working in a shale shaker room, when over or around a fluids pit system, while on the drill floor, and more. But one of the most common ways workers are exposed to chemicals in drilling fluids is through contaminated and/or inappropriate protective gear. For example, fabric gloves that get soaked with hydrocarbons expose an employee to more contaminants than if he or she had not worn any gloves at all and had been splashed with fluid and wiped it off.

To keep workers safe from hazardous exposures, it’s important for oil companies to establish clear safety protocols for the handling of drilling and fracking fluids and to provide training for all members of the team. Then, use mobile forms to create and maintain safety checklists that your team members can use on a daily basis. Scrupulous use of such checklists will enable you to identify — and address — hazardous exposures before they lead to harm.

2. Silica

Inhaling silica dust can cause silicosis, a lung disease that causes shortness of breath, severe coughing, weakness, and possibly cancer or death.

OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) have identified seven sources of silica dust exposure during hydraulic fracking:

  • Dust ejected from thief hatches (access ports) on top of the sand movers during refilling operations while the machines are running (hot loading)
  • Dust ejected and pulsed through open side fill ports on the sand movers during refilling operations
  • Dust generated by on-site vehicle traffic
  • Dust released from the transfer belt under the sand movers
  • Dust created as sand drops into, or is agitated in, the blender hopper and on transfer belts
  • Dust released from operations of transfer belts between the sand mover and the blender
  • Dust released from the top of the end of the sand transfer belt (dragon’s tail) on sand movers

You can take steps to control dust exposure by improving existing engineering controls and safe work practices. In addition, it’s required by law that you monitor the air to determine your workers’ exposure to silica, provide respiratory protection as needed, and offer training and information about the hazards of silica and other chemicals. For more information, see NIOSH’s “A Guide to Working Safely With Silica.”

3. NORM (naturally occurring radioactive materials)

The earth naturally contains small amounts of radioactive materials. Normally these concentrations are low and relatively harmless, but oil drilling activities can reveal or create higher concentrations. OSHA says that oil field production waters have high concentrations of radium, and that the scale inside pipes and tanks is where that radium builds up. Workers who handle pipes or work in gas processing facilities are at risk of NORM exposure. Water handling equipment has also been shown to have the highest levels of NORM contamination. While the radiation levels of even concentrated NORMs are fairly low, chronic exposure can cause cancer.

Because NORM exposure tends to be chronic, medical testing alone is not effective for protecting your workers. “Therefore, while medical surveillance is a standard strategy that is often used, it must be emphasized that source control, exposure monitoring, worker education and safe operating practices are the most important strategies for preventing significant worker exposures,” according to the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers.

4. Diesel exhaust

Exhaust fumes aren’t unique to the oil and gas energy industry, but they are a hazard anywhere heavy equipment or diesel generators are used. Short-term exposure to exhaust can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation. Long-term issues include cardiovascular problems and cancer.

Engineering controls are the best strategy to control exposure to exhaust. Use low-sulfur fuels and, if possible, restrict the amount of diesel-powered equipment in a work area. Also, regular maintenance of your equipment will prevent it from running too rich, which can result in excessive emissions.

Tapping technology to stay on top of hidden hazards

By tapping into technology — especially mobile forms — to provide your workers with everything from equipment inspections and hazardous substance self-inspections to safety checklists and more, you can keep your employees safe from these hidden hazards and oil and gas extraction dangers.

In many cases, OSHA or other energy regulation organizations have published energy standards relating to exposure levels of these hazards. So knowing the legal limits is a first step. Use these published energy guidelines (and other sources referenced here) to create training guides and mobile safety checklists that your workers can take right into the field with them. And consider using a mobile PPE checklist — a good practice no matter what hazards you are trying to mitigate.

You can also tap into the power of mobile forms to keep detailed records of samples taken to monitor air quality — vital information to have whether you are monitoring concentrations of diesel emissions or checking levels of airborne silica.

To see how GoCanvas can help you harness the power of mobile form to identify, monitor, and prevent hazardous exposure on your site and drilling rig, give GoCanvas a try today and download a free app from our Mining, Quarrying, Oil, Gas & Chemicals Application Store!

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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Waste management compliance is important in every industry. The oil and gas industry, in particular, has a strong risk of waste emissions…

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4 Ways Big Data is Transforming Oil and Gas

Oil and gas companies are getting smart about using the data they collect to gain insights and manage people, equipment, and worksites more effectively…

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