HEALTH, SAFETY, AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN CRUDE OIL TRANSPORT: LESSONS FROM THE EXXON VALDEZ SPILL

Abstract

Workplace accidents, especially in high-risk work environments, are inevitable at
times. However, inadequate attention to health, safety, and environmental management (HSEM)
in the workplace can lead to accidents that can significantly harm humans and the natural
environment. The study examined Health, Safety and Environmental complexities resulting from
the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill (EVOS) shipping accident in Alaska. The methodology adopted
for the study involved secondary data collection using an exploratory approach. Study results show
that EVOS led to serious environmental degradation and also caused significant sociocultural,
psychological, economic and health impacts. The main complexity and interaction of HSEM
resulting from EVOS is the dilemma of balancing HSE goals with economic goals. Even though
the prevalence of shipping tanker accidents resulting in oil spills has significantly reduced,
accidents attributable to human inadequacies still occur. Also, post-traumatic stress disorders
caused by the social, economic and environmental effects of EVOS are still felt in the areas
affected. In addition, the remediation techniques applied have not been very effective in mitigating
the spill's environmental effects despite repeated applications. Therefore, the study recommends
that International Oil Companies (IOCs) should strive to maintain a balance between economic
and HSEM goals, thereby fostering sustainability in the shipping sector.