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Hundreds of protestors filled the streets of Philadelphia recently to protest a practice they called dangerous to the environment and dangerous to workers. After meeting outside the gas industry conference being held at Philadelphia’s convention center, protestors began chanting phrases like “no fracking way” and “ban fracking now.”
Many protestors highlighted the environmental dangers of fracking, the process of using highly pressurized fluid to crack a rock layer and release natural gas underneath.
However, many more expressed concerns over the safety of drill workers, especially as natural gas companies promise that more fracking will create thousands of new jobs. Their protest follows the news of the recent death of a worker in a New York drilling accident.
In August, the gas company Halliburton was criticized for creating an unsafe working environment for some drill workers. In a candid video, workers were seen surrounded by a cloud of hydraulic fracturing sand, a dangerous substance with a high silica content. One worker later fell seriously ill from working in such conditions and the contractor was fined by OSHA.
In the United States, oil and gas jobs have one of the highest injury rates among all careers. Between 2000 and 2009, 2,554 serious accidents were reported, with 600 deaths and 576 severe injuries.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also estimated that four out of every 100 oil and gas workers would be involved in a serious injury. Most accidents involved chemical burns, falls, explosions, or workers being struck by heavy equipment.
Although fracking could create jobs and bring in revenue, it would not be worth it if it puts workers at risk. Of course, employers that knowingly put workers at risk could face serious personal injury lawsuits. Maybe that will make the gas companies think differently about fracking.
Sources: CNN, “‘Fracking’ protesters say drilling jobs not worth environmental risks,” Sarah Hoye, Sept. 20, 2011; Real Vail, “Caught on tape: Halliburton workers in swirl of fracking sand dust in Garfield County,” Aug. 15, 2011; Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Oil and Gas Industry Fatal and Nonfatal Occupational Injuries,” April 2010.