Assessment of working conditions: preventive approach for workplace safety, a case study in a drilling rig in north of Iran

Importance of drilling as upper stream and strategic industry in oil industry and economics of Iran and also necessary of applying ergonomics and occupational health sciences to design equipment and manner of doing activities at drilling rigs in order to work conditions improvements and make safer places were basis of conducting present study at a drilling rig of north oil company of Iran, 2013. This cross-sectional study has been done on 26 different jobs including 136 tasks. Nordic musculoskeletal disorder questionnaire and Quick Exposure Check used to assess ergonomics issues among workers. Moreover, illumination and noise have been evaluated as environmental factors. %95.36 of participants has been in pain in at least one out of nine parts of musculoskeletal system. Back pain was the most common problem among workers; this was in line with QEC results which depicted back's posture was the worst one. Furthermore Illustration was acceptable. In addition, %72 of stations had a noise level more than 80 db. The research results show that High force needed and standing works, manual handling, and unergonomic postures are main risk factors. Base on the results, conducting technical and engineering correction actions to improve ergonomic condition of equipment at drilling rig and make better state of present situation is essential to improve safety level at the workplace as long as process safety.