Mitigating The Dangers Of Producing And Using Fossil Fuels In Los Angeles County

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Photo by Ali Mucci on Unsplash

Los Angeles County is home to the most sizable urban oil field in the US, and three quarters of its wells are less than 2,500 feet away from domestic housing. The oil and gas industry makes a significant economic contribution to the local economy; however, the processes of extraction, production and refining all carry risks. According to The National Transportation Safety Board gas pipeline leakages, oil spillages and injuries to workers are common throughout the US. In addition, the industry contributes enormously to pollution and climate change, and its end products are hazardous. When they are extracted and stored so close to communities, being prepared to deal with the potential dangers must be a priority for both industry workers and local residents and first responders.

Dealing With The Aftermath Of Localized Explosions

Gas explosions are a hazard to industry workers, but they can also occur in the heart of a busy city, putting residents and emergency workers at risk. In May, a dozen firefighters were injured while attending to an explosion involving butane gas canisters in a manufacturing unit in downtown Los Angeles. There is some question over the origin of the explosion and how exactly it was provoked. A specialist gas explosion law firm is vital in instances like this, as they have the knowledge to determine the cause of such an accident in order to hold whoever is responsible accountable. This allows anyone injured to secure compensation, and can also help to prevent more accidents like this occurring in the first place.

Improving Safety For Refinery Workers

Workers in the oil and gas industries are regularly exposed to the risk of explosion and fire due to working with highly flammable materials. To help protect them and to improve health and safety in refineries, one of UCLA’s Labor Occupational Safety and Health Program initiatives encourages the collaboration of industry workers, members of the community and environmentalists. Through training programs, residents and workers are made aware of potential hazards and become better prepared for any emergencies.

Checking The Environmental Impact Of Oil Wells

In California, around 2 million people live within a mile of an active oil well. The extraction of oil potentially produces a large amount of pollution, harming the environment and affecting the health of residents who live close to industrial facilities. To protect them from the pollution and other hazards caused by the gas and oil industry, environmentalists would like to stop the issue of unchecked permits for new drilling wells and fracking sites until their environmental impact can be properly reviewed by a panel of independent scientists.

Extracting and producing fossil fuels, and the use of gas and oil in manufacturing, are important to the growth of the Californian economy. However, they can also be hazardous, and lessons must be learned and from oil spills and accidental explosions. Through investigation, checks and training, the safety of industry workers, communities close to drill sites throughout California, and the residents and first responders of Los Angeles can all be improved.