Working in an oil refinery is one of the most dangerous jobs out there. There are many reasons why this is so, including the fact that employees work around toxic and flammable chemicals. Because of this, there are plenty of rules and regulations surrounding the industry to help make it safer for oil field workers. However, there is still room for improvement.
The Governor of Minnesota recently signed a bill to promote better training for oil refinery workers. Here are some ways that this new law will enhance worker safety.
It will provide greater accident awareness
Sometimes, people are unaware of how their actions on the job can potentially lead to an accident unless they have first-hand experience with that job. Through this new apprenticeship program, employees will learn about the causes of accidents and ways to prevent them, leading to a safer workplace for everyone.
It will teach workers about chemicals
Chemical spills from oil refineries pose a danger to both workers and the surrounding community. Minnesota saw a significant oil spill earlier this year, and one of the main goals of this new law is to prevent something like that from happening in the future. With better training, employees can be more aware of how to handle certain chemicals and avoid spills, fires and other disasters.
Worker safety at oil refineries is important for the workers, the company and the community where the refinery is. Hopefully, this new law will result in safer conditions at Minnesota oil refineries.