Real-world barriers such as heat, poor fit, and fatigue can undermine even the strongest PPE programs

• By Jesse Verding
• Aug 04, 2026

In the oil and gas industry, PPE often serves as the first line of defense against some of the most serious hazards, including moving machinery, slips and falls, and exposure to toxic chemicals. Even though safety regulations and programs are in place, workers are not always compliant with PPE requirements on many job sites.

This disconnect raises an important question: if workers know the risks of not wearing PPE and employers require it, why is the gear not worn consistently?
The answer is often more complex than most might think. Although there is an enforcement component to PPE compliance, an increasing number of companies have learned that worker behavior has as much to do with the success of their PPE programs as safety regulations and policies do.

While many organizations have made great progress by formalizing safety programs, instituting mandatory PPE practices, and performing extensive training for their employees, safety professionals often run into a serious problem: an employee may have their PPE in place during inspections or other high-visibility activities, but they will remove it or modify it for comfort during a long shift or in adverse environmental conditions.

This presents an immense issue that must be addressed. Unfortunately, the oil and gas industry sees some of the highest injury rates on job sites across the country. In fact, a CDC analysis of OSHA's Severe Injury Reporting data showed that there were over 2,100 severe injuries resulting in hospitalization, amputation, or loss of an eye among oil and gas extraction workers between 2015 and 2022.

Several factors contribute to inconsistent PPE use on oil and gas sites:

1. 1. Workers in the oil and gas industry endure extreme hot and cold temperatures while performing their work. In the hot summer months, the wrong gear can cause heat stress, reduce airflow, or lead to fatigue.
   2. Small comfort issues may seem minor at first, but can become increasingly pronounced over the course of a 10- to 12-hour shift as the temperature continues to rise. Unsurprisingly, workers will then take steps to alleviate their discomfort by adjusting the equipment to improve ventilation or removing it to remain comfortable and productive.

• How Connected Safety Helps Lean Safety Teams Do More

  Deploying IoT wearables and AI video analytics provides short-staffed EHS teams with continuous visibility, closing operational blind spots and stopping SIFs before they occur. Read Now

• What If the Information That Prevents Your Next Fatality Is Already in the Building?

  Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) rates remain stubborn because critical warnings get filtered out long before reaching executive decision-makers. Read Now

• Why Fall Protection Fails: The Hidden Risks of Fragmented Safety Systems

  Compliance alone does not guarantee worker safety. A complete-system approach that integrates hazard assessment, engineering, equipment selection, training, rescue planning and documentation can help organizations close critical gaps and better protect workers at height. Read Now

• Weekly Eyewash Flushing Alone May Not Prevent Hidden Water Quality Risks

  Experts warn that routine activation checks may confirm eyewash functionality without addressing hidden contamination risks inside low-use plumbing systems, spray heads, hoses, and internal components. Read Now

• The Safety Message That Never Reaches the Worker

  Emergency plans depend on workers receiving timely, accurate information, yet communication gaps continue to undermine response efforts. New technologies are helping facilities deliver critical alerts faster, more clearly, and in multiple languages. Read Now

• The Hidden Safety Risk of AI: Losing the Ability to Recover

  AI may improve hazard detection and injury prevention, but organizations that rely too heavily on automation could inadvertently weaken the human skills and organizational resilience needed to manage unexpected events. Read Now

Please type the letters/numbers you see above.

• BSI Group

  From Response to Resilience: A Business Continuity Approach to Workplace Violence Aug 12, 2026

• J. J. Keller & Associates Inc.

  Powered Industrial Truck Compliance: Training, Inspections, and Expert Answers Aug 13, 2026

• SoloProtect

  Protecting Lone Workers in an Unpredictable Work Environment Aug 19, 2026

• Vector Solutions, FacilityOS

  Hazard Communications: Where are we and what’s left to be done to achieve a full US HAZCOM compliance? Aug 21, 2026

• Bilco, DuraLabel, FacilityOS, Vector Solutions

  Facility Safety: Protecting People, Assets & Uptime Aug 27, 2026

• VelocityEHS

  Closing the Safety Loop: Connecting Incident Management and Job Safety Analysis Sep 02, 2026

All Webinars