Track: Occupational Safety and Health (OSH)

Abstract

The global energy landscape has long relied on the oil and gas sector, a vital industry heavily dependent on an intricate web of pipelines, barges, and diverse transportation networks. This study delves into the pressing safety concerns within the oil and gas domain, specifically addressing transportation-related incidents, which notably exhibit a higher fatality rate compared to other aspects. Employing the Six Sigma methodology, this research endeavors to scrutinize and bolster the safety protocols within the land transportation sector of the UAE's oil and gas industry. Various analytical approaches are utilized to unearth the root causes of these issues, subsequently enabling comprehensive investigations and effective mitigation strategies. Drawing data from the International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (IOGP), committed to curbing land transportation accidents, insights are gathered from a wide spectrum of global oil and gas entities, including local firms in the UAE. Through the application of Six Sigma principles, the findings underscore that human factors, encompassing diverse facets, stand as the primary catalysts behind land-based incidents plaguing the industry. This study signifies a significant step toward identifying and rectifying critical safety concerns, ultimately striving for a safer operational environment within the oil and gas transportation sphere. The results of FMEA identified inadequate training for unusual situations as a major human factor in land transportation incidents, with the highest RPN of 504. After analysis, a significant 57.14% reduction in RPN was achieved, supported by statistical validation confirming the effectiveness of recommended actions in reducing severity and overall risk.