Why Worker Safety is Paramount to a Successful Venture: Oil Rigs

safety

Working on an oil rig is among the most dangerous jobs there is. According to the CDC, during the oil and gas boom of the late 2000s, there were around 25 fatalities per 100,000 workers in the United States. This figure, and others like it around the world, has been steadily declining, thanks to a welcome shift in workplace culture toward safety. And this hasn’t come at the expense of productivity; when workers feel that their safety is being taken seriously, they are less stressed, more focussed, and more dedicated to the success of the venture as a whole.

So, what steps might we take to promote safety on an oil rig? Fortunately, there are several concrete steps.

Instil the right Culture

The most important piece of safety equipment on an oil rig is, without doubt, the human brain. And this particular piece of equipment can be rewired slightly by instilling it with the right culture and practices. This culture should be fostered from the top of the organisation right down to the bottom. Those in leadership positions should lead through example, helping to minimise risks and spot potential dangers before they have a chance to escalate.

Update Equipment

The equipment you use on the rig should be regularly maintained and updated where necessary. Modern flow meters and other measuring equipment will allow your workers to accurately assess conditions. They can be bought from reputable vendors, like RS Components.

Encourage Feedback

Keeping a workplace environment safe depends on having the best possible information about its failings. But to obtain this information, you’ll need workers that feel comfortable reporting problems without fear of reprisals. There is always going to be an incentive to continue working even in the face of risks – but sometimes stopping the job can make a difference between life and death. Put into place procedures which ensure that this happens.

Orientation and Induction

When new workers are brought onto a rig, they may be ignorant of many of the potential dangers. Leaving them to figure things out for themselves is a near-guarantee that a proportion of them will take unnecessary risks. You can avoid this by implementing a mandatory orientation.

Train Regularly

Training should not be neglected once workers have started life on the rig. This training should include not only how to work on the rig and operate equipment, but how to do so safely. This training should also extend to subcontractors you bring on the rig; just because they aren’t employed by you directly doesn’t mean that they aren’t capable of safety oversights.