JurnalPost.com The oil and gas industry is often viewed as a vital pillar of Indonesia's national economy. However, have we ever considered that the fuel for our vehicles, the electricity we use daily, and the energy that powers our stoves are the result of work performed by individuals facing difficult, and often high-risk, conditions?
Oil and gas workers are essential to meeting the nation's energy needs. Therefore, behind their significant contribution to society and the national economy, the aspects of worker health and safety must never be overlooked.
In their daily activities, oil and gas workers may face various potential hazards, ranging from hydrocarbon vapor exposure and industrial chemicals to fine particles that can enter the respiratory tract.
Addressing these concerns, seven students from the Environmental Health Study Program at the Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Sriwijaya—Fachira Challisa Anifa, M. Bayu Wijaya, Zhaskya Claudia Nathania Edelweis, Faiza Nurulita Syafitri, Sintya Juniarti, Nyayu Carissa Putri Julia, and Jania Putri—examined various studies and sources related to health risks in the oil and gas sector.
This study was conducted to emphasize the importance of protecting the health and safety of workers from exposure to various hazards in the work environment.
“We arrived at this topic through team discussions, which led us to focus on ‘worker safety in the oil and gas sector.’ We then linked it to a compelling case study: exposure to hydrogen sulfide, or H₂S. We explored this topic through various studies and sources regarding H₂S exposure in Indonesia's oil and gas sector between 2018 and 2024 to provide insights for the public, the health sector, and the government,” said Fachira Challisa Anifa, a first-semester student in the Environmental Health Study Program at the Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Sriwijaya.
Hydrogen Sulfide: A Persistent Risk in the Oil and Gas Industry
According to Fachira, one form of exposure that requires significant attention in the oil and gas industry is hydrogen sulfide, or H₂S.
This gas is often found during oil and gas exploration and production activities, particularly in reservoirs containing sulfur.
H₂S is a major concern because airborne exposure can endanger worker health, potentially disrupting the respiratory and nervous systems and impairing physical performance.
Furthermore, the presence of H₂S cannot be assessed by smell alone. In certain conditions, an individual's ability to detect the odor may diminish even while H₂S remains present in the surrounding environment.
Hydrogen sulfide is a colorless gas characterized by a rotten-egg odor. It is commonly found in crude oil and natural gas.
Cases of H₂S exposure are not limited to international oil and gas operations. In Indonesia, research on workers at JOB Pertamina-Talisman in Ogan Komering, South Sumatra, also identified H₂S as a potential hazard during production processes.
“Based on the sources we reviewed, there were approximately 80 respondents in that study. About 27.5 percent of workers were reportedly unaware of the occupational risks, while 89.8 percent of workers followed and implemented OHS management 3. This data shows that the issue of workplace safety is not just about the presence of H₂S, but also about how workers understand and apply risk control measures in the work environment,” Fachira explained.
She explained that the source of H₂S hazards in the study originated from oil and gas containing H₂S, particularly in areas such as separators, FKWO (Free Water Knock Out), and H₂S removalfacilities.
H₂S Risks Also Found in Other Operational Areas
H₂S exposure is not a concern limited to the Ogan Komering region.
A study conducted at Pertamina EP Cepu Zone 12 in Jambaran Tiung Biru also examined groups of workers exposed to H₂S. The research involved approximately 30 workers in the exposed group and 10 workers in the control group.
Efforts to control H₂S risks have also been carried out through the enhancement of worker competency.
In 2024, the PPSDM Migas (Human Resources Development Center for Oil and Gas) and PT Pertamina Drilling Services Indonesia held training on handling H₂S gas hazards. The training covered the use of gas detection equipment, personal protective equipment (PPE), Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), and first aid procedures.
However, Fachira believes that training alone is insufficient to ensure comprehensive worker protection.
“In my opinion, such training is indeed important for workers. However, worker protection does not come from training alone. We also need to observe and monitor the work environment conditions, the availability of safety equipment or PPE, and other continuous control measures,” Fachira emphasized.
Risk Control Requires More Than Just PPE
This view aligns with the concept of the hierarchy of controls as explained by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
In this framework, training is categorized as an administrative control. Meanwhile, risk control efforts should prioritize more effective measures, including engineering controls to reduce the likelihood of worker exposure to hazards.
In the context of H₂S risks, it is not enough for companies to simply equip workers with knowledge about occupational safety.
Monitoring gas concentrations, implementing appropriate control systems, ensuring the readiness of safety facilities, using PPE, and conducting periodic evaluations of the effectiveness of workplace protections are all essential parts of preventing accidents and health issues caused by exposure.
In Indonesia, worker protection is regulated under the Minister of Manpower Regulation Number 5 of 2018 concerning Occupational Safety and Health in the Work Environment. This regulation establishes risk assessment as a foundation for determining control measures for potential hazards in the workplace.
Worker Safety Must Be Part of Industrial Success
The significant contribution of the oil and gas industry to energy supply and the national economy should go hand-in-hand with efforts to protect workers.
Industrial success should not be measured solely by production volume, profits, or economic contributions, but also by how a company maintains the health, safety, and well-being of its workforce.
“Ultimately, the success of an industry cannot be viewed only from its contribution to energy needs or the economy, but also from how the well-being, health, and safety of its workers are maintained. Training, PPE, and safety procedures must be consistently implemented and followed by regular, sustainable monitoring and risk control,” said Fachira.
She added that the energy used by the public daily does not simply appear; it is the result of the work of many people behind the production process.
“The energy we use is not obtained easily. There are workers who labor to help us access all of that. Therefore, they also have the right to return home healthy and safe,” she concluded.
References
Human Resources Development Center for Energy and Mineral Resources. (2024). PPSDM Migas and PDSI collaborate to emphasize the importance of training for H₂S gas hazard response personnel. Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources.
https://bpsdm.esdm.go.id/posts/2024/02/22/ppsdm-migas-dan-pdsi-bekerja-sama-gelar-pentingnya-pelatihan-petugas-penanganan-bahaya-gas-h2s/3322
Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia. (2018). Minister of Manpower Regulation Number 5 of 2018 concerning Occupational Safety and Health in the Work Environment. JDIH Kemnaker.
https://jdih.kemnaker.go.id/peraturan/detail/1546/peraturan-menteri-ketenagakerjaan-nomor-5-tahun-2018
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. (2024). Hierarchy of Controls. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/hierarchy-of-controls/about/index.html
Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (2026). QuickTakes: June 5, 2026 – Did You Know? Hydrogen Sulfide. U.S. Department of Labor.
https://www.osha.gov/quicktakes/060526
Ramadhan, S., Suswantoro, E., & Sintorini, M. M. (2018). Risk Analysis of Noise and Hydrogen Sulfide (H₂S) Gas Exposure for Workers in the Production Process at JOB Pertamina-Talisman (Ogan Komering), South Sumatra, Indonesia. Proceedings of the National Seminar on Sustainable Cities, 1(1).
https://doi.org/10.25105/psnkb.v1i1.2888
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