The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Oil rigs are a fundamental part of today’s modern industrial world. But the people who work on these rigs and perform their rigorous demands face dangerous situations frequently. Whether the rig is offshore or onshore, you can use several ways to keep your oil rig jobsite safe for workers and maintain job efficiencies.
Make Orientation a Requirement
When existing or transferred workers take new assignments on a rig, they need a mandatory orientation. This allows them to gain knowledge about the rig layout and creates a space where you can cover rules and policies.
Orientation is an opportunity to get everyone on the same page so that there are no surprises once the job begins. Requiring all the rig’s workers to participate in orientation can ensure everyone receives the same information and doesn’t miss critical details or create delays.
Hold Continuing Training Sessions
After the required orientation, the job can begin, and workers will get busy. But like anything, the work processes and specific job demands may evolve as enough time passes.
Offering continued training and education can ensure everyone is up to date with the newest industry information and that there’s enough space for a question-answer session related to the job. Furthering the training also helps establish a clear sense of safety by allowing workers to stop, reevaluate their processes, and make relative adjustments.
Maintain Open Communication About Safety Practices
There may be only enough time to perform continued training once a quarter or during rig downtimes, but holding weekly or monthly safety meetings can bring everyone together regularly. These routine meetings allow for open communication about safety practices and create an environment where workers feel seen and heard. The meetings can be brief. They’re a great way to keep the oil rig jobsite safe for workers without intruding on job timeframes.
Require Daily Rig Cleaning Practices
At the end of each day on the rig, implement a mandatory cleaning practice that everyone can easily follow. Not only does this housekeeping keep everyone safe on the job, but it also contributes to the cleanliness of the rig itself.
Accidental spills, leaks, and trip hazards are incredibly dangerous and can encourage different types of pipeline corrosion. Sometimes, corrosion is unavoidable, but if the rig workers maintain the site, they do their part to minimize the possibility of increasing it.
Implement a safety-first mindset for all rig workers and revisit any safety practices as time goes on. Undoubtedly, rig workers hold a pivotal role in the industrial world, but their safety is at risk every day.
