Oil and Gas Hazard Awareness Program

The Oil and Gas Hazard Awareness Program from the American Institute of Safety Professionals provides entry-level hazard awareness for workers entering the oil and gas industry for the first time. The oil and gas industry has a unique concentration of immediately dangerous hazards that workers from other industries have never encountered: hydrogen sulfide (H2S — lethal at low concentrations), hydrocarbon vapours (flammable and toxic), high-pressure systems (sudden energy release), heavy mobile equipment (struck-by and crush), confined spaces (atmospheric and engulfment), fire and explosion, NORM (Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material), extreme noise, and extreme heat. Workers who enter this industry without hazard awareness die.

The curriculum covers the oil and gas industry structure overview (upstream, midstream, downstream), H2S awareness (properties, detection, escape, never enter without SCBA), hydrocarbon hazards (flammability, toxicity, LEL), high-pressure systems (well control awareness, pressure testing, flow line integrity), heavy equipment hazards (crane operations, rig equipment, vehicle interaction), confined space awareness, fall hazards on rigs and platforms, fire and explosion prevention, NORM awareness, noise exposure, heat stress, personal protective equipment for oil and gas, emergency response awareness, and the Stop Work Authority that every oil and gas worker must understand and exercise. All training is delivered 100% online through the American Institute of Safety Professionals LMS.

Upon completing this program, participants will be able to:

• Recognise H2S hazards: the colourless lethal gas, olfactory fatigue, detection equipment, crosswind/upwind escape, and the absolute rule that no one enters an H2S area without SCBA.
• Recognise hydrocarbon hazards: flammability (LEL, ignition sources, vapour density), toxicity (benzene, BTEX), and the awareness that prevents hydrocarbon exposure and ignition.
• Recognise high-pressure hazards: the energy stored in pressurised systems, the consequences of sudden release (whipping lines, flying fittings, blast), and the respect for pressure that keeps new workers alive.
• Recognise heavy equipment hazards: staying clear of crane operations, rig floor equipment, vehicle traffic, and the situational awareness that prevents struck-by and crush injuries.
• Exercise Stop Work Authority: understanding that every worker has the right and obligation to stop work they believe is unsafe, without reprisal, and the SWA that is the most important safety tool in the oil and gas industry.

Core Topics

• Industry Overview: upstream, midstream, downstream, hazard profiles
• H2S Awareness: properties, detection, escape routes, SCBA, never enter unprotected
• Hydrocarbon Hazards: flammability, LEL, ignition sources, benzene, vapour density
• High Pressure: stored energy, sudden release, pressure testing, flow lines
• Heavy Equipment: cranes, rig equipment, vehicles, exclusion zones
• Confined Spaces: atmospheric hazards, engulfment, never enter without authorisation
• Fall Hazards: rig structures, platforms, ladders, PFAS
• Fire and Explosion: ignition prevention, hot work control, gas detection
• NORM: radioactive scale, pipe, equipment — detection, avoidance, handling
• Noise: rig noise levels, hearing protection, communication
• Heat Stress: outdoor work, heavy PPE, acclimatisation, water-rest-shade
• Oil and Gas PPE: FR clothing, H2S monitors, hard hat, safety glasses, boots
• Emergency Response: mustering, alarms, abandon ship/platform awareness
• Stop Work Authority: right, obligation, no reprisal, how to exercise

• No prior training required
• No academic degree required
• All instruction in English

Upon completion, graduates receive an American Institute of Safety Professionals certificate, wallet card, and transcript. Employer-verifiable at amiosp.com/student-verifications.

• Workers entering the oil and gas industry from other sectors
• New hires in upstream, midstream, or downstream operations
• Contractor workers mobilising to oil and gas worksites
• Service company personnel working on operator locations
• Anyone who needs basic oil and gas hazard awareness before arriving on site

• Oil and Gas Hazard Awareness — YOU ARE HERE (entry-level awareness)
• H2S Safety (dedicated H2S depth)
• Well Site Drilling Safety / Offshore Safety / Well Completion (operational specialist)
• Oil and Gas Safety Management (management-level overview)
• International Diploma in Oil and Gas Safety Management