Rig safety topics to cover with your team
With a lot of moving parts and external variables to consider, staying safe on a rig is no easy task. Your team must work together to maintain a safe work environment, even under stressful drilling conditions or project deadlines. Cover these rig safety topics with your team so everyone’s prepared to do their part.
Weather-related topics
Preparing your workers for different weather conditions is good practice regardless of the type of work you do. Whether you work on a floater or you work onshore, here are some examples of weather-related rig safety topics to consider:
- Emergency weather protocol
- How to dress for different weather conditions
- Halting work activities during inclement weather
- Working in the rain, high winds, hot temperatures, etc.
Rig equipment safety topics
Another major source of safety hazards on a rig is the heavy equipment workers use. Depending on the tools and machines you have onsite, there are many topics to cover, including:
- How to properly inspect tools and equipment
- When to red tag equipment for service
- Ways to take care of and maintain equipment
- Lockout tagout of energized machinery
- Proper tool storage
Behavioral safety
No EHS program is complete without behavioral safety training and accountability to the rules. On an oil rig, individual actions can have a big impact on safety for the entire team. Make sure everyone on your rig works safely by exploring these topics with them:
- How to report safety hazards
- How to inspect PPE for issues
- Rig safety hazards and how to control them
- Personal grooming and dress code standards
- How to maintain situational awareness
Incident management topics
Incidents are easier to manage when workers know how to react. Here are some topics related to incident management that everyone on the rig should know:
- How to safely put out a fire
- How to notify management of an incident
- Root cause analysis and corrective action
- Most common incidents on the rig and how to avoid them
- Emergency evacuation procedures
- Location and use of first aid equipment
- How to do CPR
- How to use an AED
Rig safety hazards and incidents
Lastly, teach your team about common hazards and incidents so they know what to look for. Here’s a list of general safety concerns that you can talk about:
- Chemical exposures and accidental releases
- Fires and explosions
- Equipment failures (pumps, safety valves, blowout preventors, etc.)
- Falling objects
- Severe injuries (crush injuries, broken limbs, fractures, amputations, etc.)
- Heavy machinery hazards (cranes, hoists, etc.)
- Slips, trips, and falls
With so many rig safety topics to pick from, you should be able to do regular refreshers with your team. Just be sure to log all the safety training you do so your records are up to date for compliance purposes.
