ABSTRACT
A catastrophic event in the California oil and gas networks poses a significant risk to the environment and the public. With human mistakes causing the majority of accidents, prevention effectiveness will require a focus on workers. This study assesses prevention effectiveness in the oil and gas sector. A qualitative methodology has been used to understand the relatively low occurrence of catastrophic releases of oil spills on the California oil and gas industry in the recent decades. The results indicate that to mitigate risks of critical infrastructure [CI] breakdowns, ethical climates and inter-organizational resilience must be fostered through governance efforts. There is a need to promote a culture of innovative and proactive environmental safeguards enforcements within risk prevention and crisis management networks. A culture of high reliability is present at the Office of Spills Prevention and Response [OSPR]. However, the strengthening of collaborative governance capacities would improve catastrophe prevention in the oil and gas CI within the State of California. strategies for continuous improvement. More research could emphasize the critical role front line regulators play in policy enforcement effectiveness and oil spill prevention. Further research could also assess if inspectors in the oil and gas energy sectors enjoy psychological safety in their day-to-day workplace. Psychological safety and ethical climates are key components of prevention effectiveness.