By Tom Knode The oil and gas industry is getting better at promoting safety and managing risk. That is partly because technology has reduced the chance of injury, with innovations such as automated pipe-handling equipment and sensors that assist with drilling oversight, both on the rig and remotely. Other improvements are less obvious. For example, many companies have adopted safety management systems (SMSs), which provide recommendations and rules that set expectations for how employees do their work and establish foundational elements to manage risk. A well-established SMS helps ensure that everyone from operators to contractors has a consistent means of preventing injuries. Without an SMS, it is up to individuals to determine how to keep themselves, and others, safe. DECEMBER 2024 63