Canadian Occupational Safety

www.thesafetymag.com/ca 19 F E A T U R E SECTOR FOCUS: OIL AND GAS Twenty twenty was rough for the oil and gas sector — hit by both the pandemic and tough economic conditions. Despite this, the outlook for 2021 is hopeful. Here are some key things to look out for this year and beyond BEFORE the pandemic hit in 2020, the oil and gas sector was already facing a number of issues. Just before the pandemic, in North America, there was an oil crisis and oil prices dropped. So, the sector has not just had to face a deadly pandemic but also rough economic conditions. "In the oil and gas sector in Canada, we've been doubly hit by a combination of not only COVID but also a depressed energy market," says Paula Campkin, vice president, Operations & Safety Centre of Excellence, Energy Safety Canada. This means that investment in activity has slowed, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs. In 2020, a lot of capital budgets for major projects got deferred — although this wasn't necessarily linked to the pandemic. Nevertheless, in 2021, there is a new dynamic and new investments pouring into the oil and gas industry. There is some optimism from those in the industry — notably with regards to a surge in activity. "There is definitely going to be an uptick in what is happening in the pipeline and renewables sectors," says Trent Fequet, president and CEO of Steel River Group, an Indigenous-owned diversified management and construction consortium. "There's a lot of infrastructure to be built across Canada." The forecast is certainly a mixed bag, and looking toward 2021 and beyond, there are a number of pressing issues facing the oil and gas sector. Facing the pandemic A number of key industries such as manufacturing and health care have has been facing other difficulties, the pandemic has still affected the oil and gas sector and placed a stronger focus on health and safety. "In Canada, we're seeing things change every single day … Being able to deal with the pandemic and just being able to work safely during that time is going to be at the forefront for us until we can establish herd immunity," says Campkin. "I think in our industry we want to make sure that we are working as safely and as effectively for the environment as possible," says Campkin. "Every workplace is unique, but health and safety will continue to be [the] top priority when considering how companies are bringing operations back to some semblance of normal." Workplace culture In this same vein, workplace culture is evolving in the industry. "The oil and gas sector has always been a leader in quality, health, safety and environmental standards," says Fequet. "For decades, we have been setting the bar for other industries to follow." been affected by large clusters of COVID-19 outbreaks. However, Fequet notes that, due to the oil and gas sector's historical focus on health and safety, it has been relatively spared — it is an industry that was ready to face the pandemic. "A lot of people think of oil and gas as a really dangerous industry — which it can be — but, over time, we have had significant reduction in injury rates," says Campkin. "[Major clients] had policies, procedures and programs in place that prepared them for a pandemic," says Fequet. "For example, procedures where they could lock down their project sites or plants — these were already in place." "Our industry did a really good job … because we have to consider worst-case scenarios and have plans in place to address these scenarios. I believe major producers and construction organization did a phenomenal job, probably better than most, when the pandemic hit our shores," says Fequet. "I think there's a lot to be said, and some lessons to be learned, from the oil and gas industry." Nevertheless, the pandemic is still front of mind. Although the industry "Our industry did a really good job … because we have to consider worst-case scenarios and have plans in place to address these scenarios." Trent Fequet, Steel River Group Source: Occupational Fatalities in the Oil & Gas Industry in Western Canada (AB, BC & SK) - 2001 to 2019 YTD (Energy Safety Canada). In the oil and gas industry in West- ern Canada, 341 people died on the job over a 19-year period. There has been a significant de- cline in the fatality rate since 2001 — the rate dropped by almost 90 per cent by 2019. Transportation accidents ac- counts for 40 per cent of the total occupational fatalities and have been the largest cause of death for most years. This is followed by exposure to harmful substances (23 per cent) and then contact with objects and equipment (16 per cent). OCCUPATIONAL FATALITIES IN OIL & GAS

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