North America

• Region: North America
• Date: 18 March, 2025
• Year: 2025

The Gulf of America, historically known as the Gulf of Mexico, remains a crucial region for offshore energy production, with companies like bp leading the way in health, safety, and environmental (HSE) improvements.

In recent years, bp has taken significant steps to strengthen its safety culture, implement advanced technologies, and refine operational protocols to mitigate risks and enhance workplace safety.

bp’s approach to HSE in the Gulf of America is guided by its Operating Management System (OMS), which provides a consistent framework for managing health, safety, security, and environmental risks.

The OMS integrates bp’s safety leadership principles, the International Association of Oil & Gas Producers’ (IOGP) Life-Saving Rules, and process safety fundamentals. These elements collectively drive a strong safety culture, ensuring that best practices are embedded across BP’s operations.

To reinforce this culture, bp has prioritised psychological safety among its workforce. Employees in operations are encouraged to voice concerns and report potential hazards without fear of retaliation.

Training sessions have been expanded to help employees integrate safety principles into their daily routines, fostering a more open and proactive approach to risk management.

Life-saving rules and digital solutions

The IOGP Life-Saving Rules address high-risk activities that account for the majority of serious industry incidents.

Since their adoption, bp has measured their effectiveness, conducting site visits and safety audits to assess compliance.

In 2024, operational safety teams visited production sites in Azerbaijan, refining facilities in Spain, and terminals and pipelines in the US to ensure adherence to these critical safety measures.

Technology plays a pivotal role in bp’s HSE advancements. Digital solutions such as the IRIS system (for health, safety, security, and environment reporting) and the LENS platform (for learning and knowledge-sharing) have enhanced BP’s ability to standardise processes and collaborate across sites.

Additionally, the company has deployed Nova, an integrated management tool that helps monitor risk controls and enforce safety measures.

Despite bp’s efforts, the company faced challenges in 2024, reporting a fatality and several life-changing injuries across its global operations.

These incidents have reinforced the need for continuous improvement in safety protocols. To address these concerns, bp has focused on leveraging lessons learned to prevent future occurrences, including a renewed emphasis on safe manual handling procedures and emergency response preparedness.

Process safety remains a priority, with bp implementing stricter mechanical integrity frameworks in refining and production activities.

The company has also integrated IOGP’s Process Safety Fundamentals, ensuring that risk awareness and operational reliability are at the forefront of daily activities.

bp’s offshore operations in the Gulf of America benefit from enhanced monitoring and AI-driven solutions.

In drilling activities, bp uses advanced surveillance systems that allow experts in Houston and Sunbury to detect early warning signs of potential hazards, enabling timely intervention.

Additionally, bp’s US onshore subsidiary, bpx energy, has adopted AI-powered driving safety measures, significantly reducing driver distraction and tailgating incidents.

• Region: North America
• Date: 13 March, 2025
• Year: 2025

Several Louisiana federal agency offices are losing their leases as part of a statewide cost-cutting initiative spearheaded by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a federal watchdog established by the Trump Administration whose stated aim is to streamline government spending and minimise waste.

The DOGE website, which analyses government cost-cutting measures, claims that the initiative has saved over US$105bn across the country through asset sales, contract cancellations, fraud eliminations, and lease terminations. As of March 6, the expected savings per taxpayer were US$652.17.

The largest cost-cutting strategy among the terminated Louisiana agency leases involved the Social Security Administration in Houma, which had an annual leasing cost of more than US$550,000.

The agency's lease was terminated through a "agency-approved lease termination," which means that the agency consented to evacuate the premises, according to Louisiana First News. 

OSHA office to be closed

One of the eight federal agencies affected by these cuts in Louisiana is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). DOGE stated it was a “Mass Mod” termination, meaning leases that are cancelled through mass modifications.

OSHA's 8,041 sq ft Louisiana office, which is located in the state capital Baton Rouge, costs the US government US$187,451 every year. According to DOGE, closing this office space will save the government US$109,346. 

OSHA is a division of the United States Department of Labour that oversees occupational safety and health.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA strives to ensure safe and healthy working conditions by establishing and enforcing standards, as well as providing training, outreach, education, and assistance.

There has been no official statement from OSHA at the time of writing this report. 

Other health and safety organisations impacted

Other organisations that are closing their offices include the Office of the General Counsel (OGC), which is the legal team within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). A report by Fierce Healthcare hyas indicated that OGC is closing six of its ten regional offices. This however does not appear to be mandated by DOGE. 

The report stated that HSS regional offices in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York City, San Francisco and Seattle will close. In certain cases, these regional offices are located in government buildings that were temporarily added to the General Services Administration's (GSA) non-core property list last week. This list suggested that the government is willing to remove federal buildings from its national footprint. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could also be impacted by spending cuts, given that the US government is looking to divest from non-core properties. 

It remains unclear how the employees working for these all of these agencies will be affected. 

• Region: North America
• Date: 5 March, 2025
• Year: 2025

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), is playing a leading role in an occupational safety and health coalition committed to safeguarding workers in all industries to drive business success

The Intersociety Forum (ISF) of two dozen organisations, calls for employers to go beyond legal compliance and adopt risk-based safety and health strategies. The coalition has released a report that highlights several ways a business model of safety and health can create a strategic advantage that powers positive business outcomes.

By adopting proactive, risk-based safety strategies, businesses can unlock greater productivity, reduce costs and strengthen their global competitiveness, the report says. ISF urges today’s business leaders and policymakers to prioritise occupational EHS as a foundation of economic competitiveness. Embracing safety as a strategic priority will enable businesses to forge a safer, healthier and more prosperous future — one in which both businesses and workers thrive, and position the US as a global leader in safety, innovation and workforce wellbeing.

“We urge today’s business leaders and policymakers to prioritize environmental, health and safety practices as a foundation of economic growth,” said ASSP chief executive officer Jennifer McNelly, CAE. “When workers are protected from injuries and illnesses, they perform at their best, which fosters productivity, innovation and global competitiveness. Safety strengthens resilience and enables businesses to thrive.”

Despite advancements in technology, workplace injury and fatality rates have remained relatively flat for the past decade, the ASSP points out. In 2023, a worker died on the job every 99 minutes, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Three core principles

In its report, ISF identified three core principles that help ensure workers return home safe and healthy every day. These principles are:
1) Standards and worker well-being; safety is not just about compliance; it is about creating standards that foster business success while promoting holistic worker health.
2) Embracing risk and safety management systems, which help organisations proactively mitigate risk and embed safety into every aspect of decision-making; and
3) Revolutionising recordkeeping for predictive insights; traditional lagging indicators only tell part of the story. Leading indicators empower organisations to predict and prevent serious injuries, illnesses and fatalities.

“This guidance that goes beyond compliance can bring life to workplaces across the nation, empowering workers to perform at their peak,” McNelly said. “There are benefits to reducing operational disruptions and maximising efficiency through a sustainable workforce. Simply put, safety is good for business.”

“It’s vital that the coalition has achieved meaningful cross-organisation collaboration to speak as one voice from the safety industry,” she added.

• Region: North America
• Date: 26 February, 2025
• Year: 2025

Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) causes challenges for many industries, with the oil, gas and petrochemicals industry being one of the most affected, says MSA Safety

Hydrogen sulfide is a highly flammable, toxic and corrosive gas found in several industries including oil and gas, wastewater and chemical processing, which cannot reliably be detected by smell.

Oil, gas and petrochemical facilities handle raw ‘sour’ gas and oil which are naturally high in H2S. Extraction and refining processes release H2S, which may accumulate in confined, poorly ventilated spaces like processing units, pipelines and storage tanks. Closed systems with high-pressure conditions amplify the risks for workers.

Exposure to high levels of H2S can be fatal, leading to loss of breathing, coma, seizures and death. It is the second most common cause of fatal gas inhalation exposure in the workplace, second only to carbon monoxide.

H2S can also be harmful at low concentration levels, causing headaches, dizziness, nausea, breathing difficulties and a sore throat. These health impacts can become more serious with prolonged exposure.

The health impacts of H2S depend on how much is inhaled and for how long. The recommended exposure limit set by NIOSH (the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) for ten minutes is 10 ppm.

However, some U.S. states have developed ambient air standards for H2S well below OSHA and NIOSH standards due to concerns about health risks from chronic exposure.

For longer exposures to H2S, the recommended limits are much lower. For example, if you are exposed for up to 24 hours, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a maximum exposure of 0.1 ppm.

In response to concerns about the risks of H2S to human health even at low concentration levels, some countries have introduced equally stringent guidelines requiring businesses to monitor H2S at such concentrations.

Balancing safety and operational efficiency is an ongoing challenge in the oil, gas and petrochemical industry. Some are tackling this challenge by integrating new technological solutions into their safety management practices and seeking out effective preventative measures, including regular training and effective ventilation. The use of Personal Protective Equipment is also important.

A particularly helpful method for avoiding excessive H2S exposure is constant monitoring by advanced gas detection systems such as MSA’s ALTAIR io 4 Connected Gas Detector, which can give an early warning of even subtle increases in H2S concentration, helping companies stay ahead of potential risks. The company has recently updated this to offer the option of a low-concentration hydrogen sulfide sensor that can detect H2S at very low levels.

Connected gas detection devices can help an organisation significantly improve worker safety by providing real-time monitoring of gas levels and worker location and behaviour, enabling safety managers to monitor the situation remotely and take immediate action if gas levels become or get close to becoming dangerous. This proactive approach to safety can help prevent accidents and foster a culture of safety within the organisation.

As with all toxic gases, early detection of H2S is an excellent way to alert safety managers to small increases in H2S emissions so they can help workers avoid harmful exposure, even at low concentrations.

• Region: North America
• Date: 18 February, 2025
• Year: 2025

A bipartisan group of 10 legislators has introduced a series of bills aimed at bringing New Mexico into multiple interstate health care compacts.

These agreements would allow physicians, physician assistants, psychologists, counselors, dentists, dental hygienists, emergency medical personnel, audiologists, speech therapists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists licensed in other states to practice in New Mexico without undergoing a lengthy in-state licensing process.

The push to join these compacts follows a key recommendation from Think New Mexico, a nonpartisan think tank, in its 2024 report on addressing the state's health care worker shortage. Interstate compacts streamline licensure by enabling states to recognise professional licenses issued by other participating states, making it easier for out-of-state health care professionals to work in New Mexico, including through telehealth services.

Currently, 41 states participate in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact for physicians, while other health professions have similar agreements with widespread adoption across the country.

Neighboring states such as Arizona, Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah, and Texas have all joined at least five interstate health care compacts, creating a more mobile workforce.

In contrast, New Mexico has only participated in one—the Nurse Licensure Compact—since 2003. This compact has been vital in maintaining hospital staffing, particularly in rural and border regions, where up to 80% of nurses at some facilities rely on multistate licensure.

Protecting patients

The proposed legislation has gained support from a broad coalition of organisations, including AARP-NM, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, the League of Women Voters New Mexico, the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, New Mexico Voices for Children Action Fund, and the New Mexico Public Health Association.

Additionally, governing boards and professional associations for the covered health care fields, such as the New Mexico Medical Board and the New Mexico Medical Society, have endorsed the initiative.

These compacts include strict safeguards to protect patients. For example, the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact allows state medical boards to retain control over the licensing process and deny recognition of licenses if necessary. It also provides access to a centralised database of disciplinary actions and requires fingerprint-based FBI background checks for physicians.

By adopting these compacts, New Mexico aims to strengthen its health care workforce, improve access to care, and ensure that qualified professionals can practice in the state without unnecessary bureaucratic barriers.

Joining the interstate compacts would immediately expand the supply of health care providers available to care for New Mexicans,” said Fred Nathan, Jr., executive director of Think New Mexico. “A remarkably broad coalition has come together to support the passage of these compacts. For example, the Interstate Medical Compact for physicians is supported by both Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains and the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops. In fact, only one special interest stands in the way of New Mexico joining these compacts and opening its doors to more health care workers: the New Mexico Trial Lawyers Association.”

• Region: North America
• Date: 13 February, 2025
• Year: 2025

AI-powered Integrated Operations Platform Motive has unveiled new AI features intended to tackle drowsy and distracted driving, one of Mexico's biggest traffic safety issues.

Safety managers can now proactively address driver weariness and other risky behaviours to increase fleet safety with Motive's AI-powered Forward Collision Warning and Drowsiness Detection, which have been introduced to the Mexican market.

In Mexico, driver weariness poses a serious concern to road safety. The Mexican Institute of Transportation (IMT) claimed that driver behaviour, particularly distracted and sleepy driving, was responsible for about half of all traffic collisions in 2023. Drivers are pushed to their limits by long driving hours, which are made worse by a lack of workers.

This leads to harmful behaviours including crossing into oncoming traffic, making unsafe lane changes, and being involved in fatal collisions.

Motive has introduced advanced AI-driven safety features designed to tackle driver fatigue and prevent collisions, enhancing overall road safety. Integrated with Motive’s AI Dashcams, these innovations proactively detect drowsiness and potential crashes, offering real-time alerts to drivers and safety managers.

Key features

The AI-driven feature identifies both early and advanced signs of driver fatigue, such as repeated yawning and prolonged eye closure. Once these indicators are detected:
- Drivers receive immediate in-cab alerts, encouraging them to take necessary breaks.
- Safety managers are promptly notified, allowing them to intervene and reinforce rest periods.
- If a driver begins to nod off, the system issues an urgent alert to wake them and prevent a possible accident.

Rear-end collisions, often caused by distraction or drowsiness, can now be significantly reduced with Motive’s AI-powered Forward Collision Warning. This system, available with all Motive AI Dashcams, continuously assesses vehicle speed, following distance, and estimated time to impact. When a driver approaches another vehicle too quickly, it triggers an alert, allowing them to brake in time. Studies show that such warnings can reduce rear-end crashes by 27%.

Motive’s technology generates alerts for these behaviours three to four times more frequently than competing solutions, giving fleet operators greater visibility into driver performance.

Organisations using Motive’s AI Dashcam have seen up to an 80% reduction in accidents, a 30% drop in accident-related expenses, and a 21% decrease in insurance costs.

Motive is further refining its safety tools with the upcoming Driver Fatigue Index (DFI), which will analyse multiple fatigue indicators such as yawning frequency, lane deviations, eye movement, unusual speed changes, total driving hours, and environmental factors. 

The AI-powered drowsiness detection and forward collision warning capabilities integrate directly into Motive’s platform, equipping transportation, logistics, and fleet operators with the necessary tools to mitigate safety risks. 

Also read: Intersec 2025 sets new benchmark for global safety and security

• Region: North America
• Date: 6 February, 2025
• Year: 2025

As health, safety, and environmental (HSE) considerations take centre stage in the energy sector, companies are adopting cutting-edge technologies and best practices to enhance workplace safety, reduce environmental impact, and improve operational efficiency.

In North America, a few companies have begun focusing on technology to safeguard HSE practices and enhance safety measures.

BP, for example, has integrated advanced monitoring systems and automated safety technologies across its operations. The Thunder Horse South Expansion Phase 2 project, launched in September 2021, achieved over a million hours worked without a safety incident. In response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, BP also launched a large-scale training programme, training more than 100,000 workers.

On the other hand, Shell has implemented strict zero-discharge policies to prevent hazardous waste from entering marine ecosystems. Additionally, its waste management initiatives focus on sustainable disposal methods. Shell regularly engages stakeholders through workshops to discuss safety and environmental concerns.

Chevron employs real-time monitoring systems to track drilling parameters and well integrity, improving safety across its operations. The company conducts Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) processes and third-party audits to mitigate risks. As a result, Chevron has seen measurable improvements in safety metrics, including reductions in recordable injuries and lost workdays.

Transocean focuses on workforce preparedness through regular safety drills and emergency simulations. The company also leverages advanced monitoring technologies to maintain high safety standards across offshore operations.

Leveraging technology for safety 

Sonar technology plays a crucial role in offshore risk management, providing real-time data for environmental monitoring and structural integrity assessments. BP, for example, uses sonar to detect leaks in underwater pipelines and track marine wildlife, minimising environmental impact. Chevron similarly employs sonar to identify gas leaks and prevent structural failures.

Sampling technology, such as Real-time Sampling While Drilling (SWD), enables companies to collect geological data continuously during drilling. This technology enhances safety by providing insights into subsurface conditions, reducing the risk of blowouts. Oceaneering, a Texas-based firm, deploys remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) equipped with sampling tools in the Gulf of Mexico, allowing for detailed underwater inspections without human divers.

With the gradual introduction of carbon capture and storage (CCS) regulations, energy companies are being pushed to reduce emissions and align with global climate targets. Implementing CCS technology not only helps firms meet regulatory requirements but also enhances their reputation for sustainability and corporate social responsibility. While initial investment costs are high, long-term benefits include avoiding emissions penalties, improving regulatory standing, and driving innovation in environmental performance.

By prioritising HSE measures and integrating cutting-edge technologies, companies are not only ensuring worker safety and environmental protection but also positioning themselves for long-term operational success.

• Region: North America
• Date: 5 February, 2025
• Year: 2025

The energy tech provider has signed an MoU extending its long-standing partnership with Microsoft, specifically focusing on the innovation and integration of its Cordant suite of solutions.

Cordant and Microsoft Azure will be jointly developed to deepen the potential and widen the integration of both solutions. Cordant solutions will be rooted in the Azure AI Foundry to optimise energy operations, improve predictive maintenance models, enhance safety, foster greater energy efficiency, and push the industry and technological potential forward.

Aravind Yarlagadda, Baker Hughes' senior VP of Industrial Solutions, Industrial & Energy Technology, said the MoU will "drive operational excellence and support customers in driving value at scale from their digital investments."

Microsoft's corporate VP of Energy and Resources Industry, Darry Willis, promised "greater operational performance, energy efficiency, and growth through AI-powered digital solutions" as a result of the partnership.

• Region: North America
• Date: 28 January, 2025
• Year: 2025

Industry leaders operating in the offshore oil and gas space in the Gulf of Mexico must contend with a number of key challenges to maximise HSE performance, some of these emanate from the nature of the industry, others to the unique character of the North American regulatory environment

Some of the key principle challenges include:

• High risk nature of industry: Employees working within the offshore oil and gas industry can be exposed to a range of dangers including unsafe substances, noise, vibration, radiations, extreme temperatures, and ergonomic hazards. Historically, oil and gas extraction workers in the US face elevated fatal occupational injury rates seven-times higher than all other US workers, according to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention, although fatality rates have been dropping –especially offshore in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon reaction.
• Evolving regulations: The legislative reaction to the Deepwater Horizon disaster brought in a wave of procedures, rules and regulations to tighten up offshore operations with the aim of preventing incidents that could cause harm to workers and the environment. In recent years these have been pulled either way by different administrations and appear constantly under scrutiny. Those regulations for meeting HSE obligations have expressed it can be difficult to keep up and ensure the entire workforce it aligned when the rules are consistently shifting. It can also require significant investment in technology and practices to ensure compliance with new standards.
• Getting workers on board: HSE strategies can only be effective if employees are fully engaged and participate in the delivery of a safety culture. “Safety culture is an integral component of any high-risk industry, and its significance for oil rig operations cannot be overstated,” as stated in a report by Lyons & Simmons around oil rig safety in the US. “It encompasses the attitudes, beliefs, perceptions, and values that employees share in relation to safety within an organisation […] by prioritising safety in every decision and operation, companies can significantly reduce the likelihood of accidents and create a safer workforce for all employees.” Without workers buying into compliant programmes – and incorporating it into every action they take – a successful safety culture cannot be achieved.
• Covid hangover: The global pandemic had a profound effect on the offshore oil and gas industry, particularly in regards to the workforce with a high turnover leading to skills shortages. In regards to HSE, the persisting problem is translating into a lack of experience within the field, with leaders suggesting it can be challenging to get new recruits to recognise the importance of practicing safe working at all times, especially with experienced staff no longer around to provide guidance. The high number of short-term contractor staff also feeds in here; it can be challenging to get them aligned with operator standards.
• Ageing assets: SLB data shows that productive fields and reservoirs around the world are maturing with more than two-thirds of wells expected to be over 10 years old by 2030. This challenge is all too familiar in the Gulf of Mexico which is one of the world’s oldest offshore oil producing regions. Older assets and equipment typically pose a greater incident risk due to factors such as deterioration, lack of familiarity, difficulty obtaining repair parts and losses of critical information. As one of the biggest sources of offshore incidents, ageing assets is a leading cause of HSE breaches and is therefore identified as a primary concern for industry leaders.

The above is an extra from Offshore Network’s Gulf of Mexico: Health, Safety & Environment Report 2024 which can be downloaded here.

• Region: North America
• Date: 21 January, 2025
• Year: 2025

President Trump’s first term had a significant impact on HSE: deregulation and policy shifts hoped to reduce the regulatory burden on businesses, often at the expense of stricter HSE oversight.

Beyond mere strategic priorities, Trump made tangible impacts with the rollback of several regulations from preceding administrations; rollbacks that continue to impact how operators approach legislation and standards. Throughout their first term, Trump & co. reduced the extent of OSHA inspections and potentially delayed the implementation of new safety standards in construction and oil and gas.

While these shifts undoubtedly played a starring role in President Trump's broader mission to streamline operations, reduce project lead-in times (especially in the energy sector) and minimise business costs, many still feel that worker protections were eroded to a degree that they have yet to recover fully from, four years on from the successive administration's inauguration.

In the case of over 100 environmental protections that the New York Times found were rolled back or restricted in breadth, many will argue that, beyond worker protections, the planet paid the price, too.

As Donald Trump is inaugurated for his second term in office, industries should anticipate further deregulation and policies favoring economic growth over stringent oversight.

In the face of such rollbacks, the industry may see current CSR and ESG strategies pushed to the wayside in favour of the lower operating costs and project efficiencies granted by a less-regulated environment. Federal policy changes, and businesses' reaction to them, will become even more critical to project success: those reacting quickest to them will likely be the most efficient, profitable and, in the eyes of many organisations, successful.

Whether short-term cost savings (courtesy of deregulation) cannibalise long-term HSE, ESG and CSR strategies, or businesses hold strong on their ambitious commitments, the sustainability and safety spheres are undoubtedly in for a transformative second Trump term.

• Region: North America
• Date: 7 January, 2025
• Year: 2025

GlobalData’s latest report 'Virtual Reality in Oil and Gas' highlights the safety benefits of virtual reality (VR) training in the industry, from rigs and pipelines to refineries

Oil and gas companies are now investing in training modules for the workforce and visualising the asset under consideration for planning and decision making.

Ravindra Puranik, Oil and Gas Analyst at GlobalData, said, "VR enhances operational safety through immersive training programmes. It can help develop safety procedures at production facilities to address smaller accidents as well as for emergency response."

Companies such as Shell, bp, Chevron, and ExxonMobil, are using VR as a cost-effective option to train their employees in critical oil and gas operations. This provides a highly safe and cost-efficient approach to introducing personnel to a new facility. These sessions usually entail virtual walk-throughs, away from heavy industrial equipment.

Hazardous environments

Puranik said, “Industry technicians work in hazardous environments, such as offshore rigs or at a densely packed equipment maze in a refinery. VR can be used to relay important information and instructions to the technician onsite, without the need to fly out experts to that location or carrying detailed instruction manuals for referencing.”

VR plays a key role in the digital twin set up, helping companies recreate scenarios through detailed simulations. During planning and development, the collaborating teams can share information using VR to simulate various scenarios. It is useful in optimising equipment performance and maximising the asset life. Digital twins help to design workflows and identify bottlenecks to optimise a plant’s performance. Twins also help to create a 3D visualisation of the seismic data using VR simulations.

Puranik concluded, “Various aspects of a production platform can be modelled through VR simulations to enhance the understanding of personnel for on-field tasks. They can simulate the processes using VR before implementing on the operational floor. It thus reduces the scope for human errors during critical operations. Besides, designers and engineers can better visualise the layout under development using VR technology. This can potentially help to improve designs, and carefully plan its execution to optimise the project costs.”

In a case study cited by immersive technology provider immerse.io, Shell wanted to simulate an accidental overspill on a storage tanker, requiring the trainee to follow the appropriate procedures to extinguish the fire. immerse.io designed a VR programme, challenging trainees to solve the problem using their existing knowledge and skills with no instructions or advance warnings, as in a real-world scenario. Decoy objects test decision-making whilst realistic sounds and hi-res visuals recreate the intensity of a real-life situation. Assessors can control the whole experience and trigger actions such as a fire at any time, resulting in a dynamic and variable simulation.

• Region: North America
• Date: 31 December, 2024
• Year: 2024

United Rentals, Inc., the leading global equipment rental company, has introduced the Excavation Safety Training for Competent Persons Program, offering an innovative approach to trench and excavation safety

This program aims to improve compliance and productivity through interactive learning activities that equip participants with practical knowledge for managing one of construction’s most hazardous tasks.

The training supports competent persons—those responsible for excavation safety—and assists employers and workers in understanding and applying OSHA Standard 29 CFR Part 1926 Subpart P. It provides advanced insights into topics such as soil evaluation, protective systems, and interpreting safety standards.

Available through United Academy, the program offers multiple learning formats, including in-person sessions, virtual instructor-led classes, and e-learning modules. With engaging features like virtual reality simulations and hazard hunts, the program sets a benchmark for safety training across industries like infrastructure, oil and gas, and utilities.

“Working below ground, and building underground structures and utilities is demanding and requires relevant up-to-date safety training. Leading-edge training takes the information and classroom lessons to the field, which helps promote safe and compliant jobsites,” said Todd Hayes, region vice president – Trench Safety, United Rentals. “Our revised program will help our customers foster a culture of safety, while reducing risks and improving jobsite results.”

Created in collaboration with Mosaic Learning, the platform incorporates knowledge assessments, simulation exercises, and interactive learning activities designed for adult learners. It also integrates the United Rentals Trench Safety app, offering tools like a slope calculator and OSHA resources on iOS and Android.

United Rentals Trench Safety Solutions

United Rentals Trench Safety delivers efficient safety solutions for worksites through underground services and training. With 92+ trench safety locations and North America's largest fleet of shoring and underground excavation rental equipment, the company offers customised, cost-effective solutions. Its offerings include OSHA-compliant trench protection systems, such as shoring, shielding, lasers, and optical instruments. United Rentals also provides pre-bid protective system analysis, on-site consultations, and engineering design support.