November 19, 2024
The British Drilling Association (BDA) has been monitoring and tracking accident statistics within the drilling industry for several years, with the goal of addressing areas of risk, improving safety standards and reducing the number of accidents within the industry. The process of collation was reviewed in 2021 following COVID, which resulted in a lack of meaningful data. To ensure more accurate and transparent data was provided by members, the BDA has refined the analysis process to allow comparison with related industries and sectors.
The BDA has recorded a significant increase in accident data returns in the last year from 47% of membership in 2022 to 75% in 2023. This increase is positive news for the BDA and sharing of information will only improve our understanding of where the industry needs to focus its safety objectives and will help our members to identify areas for improvement.
BDA Accident Data 2023
Accident statistics are meaningless without context or the ability to benchmark data. The BDA has chosen to use HSE Construction Industry data 2023[1] and use of LFS, average estimate over 2020/21-2022/23 where applicable.
For benchmarking purposes the calculation of Accident Incident Rates (AIR) & Accident Frequency Rates (AFR) will be determined as follows:
- AIR = (No of RIDDOR Reportable Accidents / Ave Industry Workforce Number) x 100,000
- AFR = (No of accident (Non-fatal) / Total number hrs worked) x 1,000,000
[1] Construction statistics in Great Britain, 2023
According to the latest data collected by the BDA, there has been a noticeable decrease in the number of accidents reported over the last year. In 2022, there were a total of 30 RIDDOR reportable accidents and this has decreased to 20 in 2023 (33% reduction). This downward trend is a positive sign that safety measures and protocols put in place by the BDA and its members are proving to be effective. Non reportable injuries also fell from 285 to 255 in the last year (10% reduction overall).
The recorded AIR and AFR have fallen significantly in 2023. The recorded AIR has fallen from 562 to 308, a reduction of 45% overall. The industry AFR has also fallen by 24% to 18.95 in the same period. In isolation this is good news, particularly when there is a greater uptake from BDA members in providing statistics, however It should be noted that statistical comparisons with the wider Construction industry should be taken with consideration and caution when used for interpretive purposes.
The HSE statistics show 4038 Non-fatal RIDDORs recorded in 2022/23 reporting period, however Labour Force Survey (LSF) estimate that of the 53,000 non-fatal injuries, 28% resulted in an over-7-day absence from work. HSE note that the LFS gives the best indication of scale of workplace injury in the construction industry and non-fatal injuries are grossly underreported, particularly for the self-employed.
Analysing the data collected, the Drilling industry is performing well in terms of comparison with LFS data, however work needs to be done to bring the AIR down further when assessing against HSE AIR based on recorded incidents. For a fair comparison, some consideration needs to be made to the environment, conditions and nature of work. If using direct comparisons, the types of injuries realized should be consider.
Our statistics show that of the 20 RIDDOR reportable accidents, 15 (75%) were attributed to Over 7-day incidents. To make a comparison we have evaluated the Over 7-day Incapacitation data from HSE as per the graphs below.
The accident types realised within the industry remain the same. Manual Handling injuries are the biggest cause of accidents in both wider construction and drilling industries resulting in over 7-day incapacitation, whilst Slips, Trips and Falls are also another major contributor. These are obvious outcomes with the nature of drilling works, however the slight reduction in RIDDORs within the industry could be attributed to greater hazard awareness, site preparation and modernisation of Drilling Machines, with innovations such as rod handlers and manipulators being common and other disciplines such as cable percussive being utilised less frequently.
Another potential contributing factor to the decrease in accidents is the increased focus on training and education within the industry. The BDA has worked closely with its members to provide a comprehensive audit program, covering all aspects of safety and best practices on drilling sites. The audit has undoubtedly played a significant role in ensuring industry standards are adhered to. Additionally, the audit has implemented stricter safety guidelines and regulations for its members to follow. By enforcing these standards, the association is ensuring that drilling operations are carried out in a safe and responsible manner, reducing the risk of accidents and injuries to workers.
Mental Health Statistics
One area of focus for the BDA in the last year has been the Health, Safety and Wellbeing of our people. Lost days due to mental health issues has risen by 33% in the last year to 517 lost days in 2023. The Dilling industry has recorded a mental health AIR of 462 cases per 100,000 workers, which is still lower than the wider construction sectors equivalent of 760, but it is a growing concern and an area in which we need to keep focus on and continue to improve our understanding of and how we make effective interventions.
The BDA will continue communications with the membership, raising awareness and although each member will have their own means of managing the risk, we firmly believe that a collective effort to identify areas for improvement is essential. It is important to keep mental health risk in the spotlight.
In Summary
There is still much to do to improve industry safety, even though we are increasing engagement with members, and we are to be moving in the right direction. We will continue to encourage clear and transparent reporting of accident data from our membership and use the information gathered to improve industry performance. Evaluation of data alongside other mechanisms such as audit information and wider industry statistics will give greater insight into potential risks, but will also bring opportunities for learning, innovation and advancement.
Looking ahead, the BDA is committed to continuing its efforts to improve safety standards within the drilling industry. By working closely with its members, introducing new guidance, and investing in training and education programmes, we aim to further reduce the number of accidents that occur on drilling sites. We want all our members to be audit ready at all times, to ensure that the highest standards are replicated across the industry, and we continue to drive sustainable and safe practice.
In conclusion, the BDA has made significant progress in reducing accident rates within the industry in a short period and through a combination of training, technology, industry collaboration and sharing, the BDA endeavors to make a positive impact on industry safety with the ultimate goal of creating a safer working environment for all individuals involved in drilling operations.
Author: Paul Breslin, Chair, BDA Health & Safety Sub-committee