Scrambling to keep the Gulf cleanup safe

The massive, expanding cleanup on the Gulf is creating safety challenges aplenty and both the government and private industry are scrambling to respond.

We’ve seen the impact in our temporary safety personnel services. One Friday afternoon we were asked by a major cleanup contractor if we could find 10 safety professionals to put on the job by Monday morning. We were able to oblige.

OSHA reported this week that more than 39,000 workers were involved in the cleanup as well as 6,500 vessels. OSHA itself began deploying staff to the Gulf in late April and now has personnel at all 17 staging areas in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

Depending on their jobs, , workers can face hazards from “heat, falls, drowning, fatigue, loud noise, sharp objects, as well as bites from insects, snakes, and other wild species native to the Gulf Coast area. Workers may also face exposure to crude oil, oil constituents and byproducts, dispersants, cleaning products and other chemicals being used in the cleanup process.”

The agency reported that it has made over 1392 site visits, covering vessels and staging areas as well as decontamination, distribution and deployment sites.

OSHA says it is also working to ensure that workers are not exposed to dangerous levels of toxic chemicals. OSHA has reviewed the BP monitoring data and has brought in a team of industrial hygienists to conduct its own independent monitoring both on shore and on the cleanup vessels.