Abstract
This chapter describes the workplace and exposures for oil rig workers who are dealing with the drilling and well maintenance on an oil rig (on- or off-shore); however, offshore workers include many other job categories, which are described in other chapters. Drilling fluids are complex and vary along with drilling conditions and are combinations of hundreds of different chemicals and substances. They are broadly divided into oil-based/nonaqueous and water-based drilling fluids. The drilling fluids may be irritant, and olefins in drilling fluids can cause severe irritant reactions and may be tested by a ROAT test; other substances which are added to drilling mud like calcium bromide can lead to severe chemical burns when handled in their raw form, but are unlikely a cause of concern once mixed into the drilling muds.
Di-ethylene triamine (DETA) and Tri-ethylene tetramine (TETA) are used as emulsifiers in drilling fluids and have been the main cause of outbreaks of allergic contact dermatitis.
In marine placements, epoxy resins are used extensively for rust prevention and subsea equipment.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
Buying options
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Learn about institutional subscriptionsReferences
Anderson IK, Cox RAF (1987) Offshore medical care. In: Cox RAF (ed) Offshore medicine: medical care of employees in the offshore oil industry, 2nd edn. Springer, London
De Groot AC (2008) Patch testing, 3rd edn. Acdegroot, Wapserveen
Health & Safety Executive Hazardous Installations Directorate Offshore Division (OSD) (2009) Offshore injury, ill health and incident statistics 2008/2009. HID Statistics report HSR 2009 – 1. 9. Health & Safety Executive, Bootle
HSE (2003) Reporting cases of disease under the reporting of injuries, diseases and dangerous occurrences regulations 1995 (RIDDOR). Operations notice 60. 2003-last update
James R, Nistov A, Smulders C, Walker K, Schei TM, Lebond N, Sopko M, Fonneland T (2007) Occupational exposure hazards related to the use of drilling fluids presented with remedial risk-management guidelines (SPE 108514), Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE Asia Pacific Health, Safety, Security and Environmental Conference and Exhibition, 10–12 Sept 2007, Bangkok, Thailand, pp: 1–10
Knox JM, Knox JM, Dinehart SM, Holder W, Cox G, Smith EB (1986) Acquired perforating disease in oil field workers. J Am Acad Dermatol 14(4):605–611
Mearns K, Hope L (2005) Health and Well-being in the offshore environment: the management of personal health 305. Health & Safety Executive, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, Norwich, UK
Nair B, Elmore AR, Cosmetic Ingredients Review Expert Panel (2003) Final report on the safety assessment of sodium sulfite, potassium sulfite, ammonium sulfite, sodium bisulfite, ammonium bisulfite, sodium metabisulfite and potassium metabisulfite. Int J Toxicol 22(Suppl 2):63–88
Nyfors A (2000) Skin diseases in oil-rig workers. In: Kanerva L, Elsner P, Wahlberg JE, Maibach HI (eds) Handbook of occupational dermatology. Springer, Berlin, pp 1021–1027
OGP/IPIECA Health Committee (2009) Drilling fluids and health risk management – a guide for drilling personnel, managers and health professionals in the oil and gas industry, vol 396. IPIECA/OGP, London
Oil & Gas UK (2017) Oil & Gas UK workforce report 2017. 2017 The UK Oil and Gas Industry Association Limited, trading as Oil & Gas UK. London. https://oilandgasuk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Workforce-Report-2017-Oil-Gas-UK.pdf
Ormerod AD (1997) Occupational dermatitis in oil rig workers. Dermatol Pract 5(6):16–18
Ormerod AD, Wakeel RA, Mann TA, Main RA, Aldridge RD (1989) Polyamine sensitization in offshore workers handling drilling muds. Contact Dermatitis 21(5):326–329
Ormerod AD, Dwyer CM, Goodfield MJ (1998) Novel causes of contact dermatitis from offshore oil-based drilling muds. Contact Dermatitis 39(5):262–263
Parkes KR, Swash S (2005) Offshore sickbay consultations in relation to age, job factors, and self-reported health, 364. Health & Safety Executive, UK
Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (2008) Annual report 2007 – facts section. Petroleum Safety Authority Norway, Stavanger
Petroleum Safety Authority Norway (2009) Annual report 2008 – facts section. Petroleum Safety Authority Norway, Stavanger
Rietschel RL, Fowler JM (2008) Fischer’s contact dermatitis, 6th edn. BC Decker, Hamilton
Searl A, Galea KS (2011) Toxicological review of the possible effects associated with inhalation and dermal exposure to drilling fluid production streams. IOM Research Report TM/11/06, Edinburgh. https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwj949Dq2vrXAhXLI8AKHY18DygQFggnMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iom-world.org%2Fpubs%2FIOM_TM1104.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1MWDnGf8_tCZqSygSAtMaJ
Statistics Norway (2010) Principal figures for service activities incidental to oil and gas extraction excluding surveying: 2005–2008 (Homepage of Statistics Norway), (Online). 2010-last update
THOR Research Team (2010) Cases of occupational skin disease reported in oil rig workers reported to EPIDERM (2002–2009), OPRA (2002–2009) and THOR-GP (2005–2009). Data request by M Steiner on 11th May 2010, response 24th May 2010, 2010-02-EPIDERM
Wheeland RG, Roundtree JM (1985) Calcinosis cutis resulting from percutaneous penetration and deposition of calcium. J Am Acad Dermatol 12(1 Pt 2):172–175
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Steiner, M.F.C., Ormerod, A.D. (2020). Oil Rig Workers. In: John, S., Johansen, J., Rustemeyer, T., Elsner, P., Maibach, H. (eds) Kanerva’s Occupational Dermatology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68617-2_176
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68617-2_176
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-68615-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-68617-2
eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine