A FIELD ALERT - Take Charge of Drill Rig Visitors

Health & Safety - Mining, Environmental, & Cybersecurity

Date posted: 02/01/16

Gary L. Hix indicates that whenever owners, guests, or visitors come out to the drill rig, we assume the responsibility for their protection, health, and safety. There should be a written job safety plan in effect that might cover this in great detail on some job sites. There may even be a designated person to stop, intercept, and host visitors to the drilling project. But for so many domestic well drillers, there is probably no such person or written plan for the well driller to follow when someone walks up to the rig. When I work at a drill site these days, it is typically as a consultant for the well owner or as a geologist logging cuttings for the driller. Either way, I feel I have a sense of responsibility to monitor who comes to the site and how I can keep them safe while they are there. My many years of being around well drilling activities has taught me anything can happen at any time and we must always be on guard for potential accidents. Having witnessed drill rigs falling over, high pressure hoses bursting, items falling down, and people being hurt in the strangest of ways, I know there are potential dangers everywhere around a well drilling site. Guests and visitors probably do not even suspect what forms of danger lurk there. Any accident is going to become the responsibility of the owner of the rig. The standards for safety apply to everyone equally. Anyone on or in proximity to the drill rig should be wearing a hard hat, safety glasses, and for most situations, ear plugs. Visitors to environmental drill sites must be kept behind a clearly marked safety zone. Visitors to domestic well drilling sites must be kept a safe distance from the rig and associated equipment. Photo opportunities and publicity events can disrupt the normal workflow and allow employees to let down their guard while performing their normal duties. Employees can become distracted by the visitors and be injured as well.