The United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has

renewed its alliance with the South Louisiana Service, Transmission, Exploration, and

Production Safety Network. This alliance will continue to provide information and resources to

promote safety and health for oil and gas workers in South Louisiana. This alliance will cover

operators and contractors in the oil and gas production, exploration, and product transmission

industry. The South Louisiana STEPS Network is one of twenty three STEPS groups in fifteen

states. It is a two-year contract.

“Our country’s oil production is on track to set records this year, and that really underscores the

importance of working together to make sure the workers who are contributing to the growth of

the nation’s oil and gas industry are safe. That’s what this alliance is about – an ongoing

commitment to the safety and health of those workers,” said Dorinda Folse, OSHA’s area

director in Baton Rouge. “Though the nationwide fatality rate in the oil and gas sector is still

much higher than for workers in other sectors, the STEPS Networks represent a contribution to

other public and private initiatives that have led to significant gains in oil and gas safety, both in

Louisiana and nationwide.”

This renewed alliance could mean trouble for any companies in the oil and gas industry in

southern Louisiana. The alliance will continue to spread information for a safer workplace, but

could also lead to additional inspections and lowered tolerances for issues. So if you are in the oil

and gas industry in South Louisiana, it is advisable to work with a third party occupational safety

and health organization to ensure your policies and procedures are current.

If you have any questions about this alliance or about third party occupational safety and health

audits, please contact us. If you have anything to add about this alliance, please leave a comment.