Drilling Equipment Safety

Practice drilling equipment safety on your drilling machine

Working on a drilling rig can be a dangerous task. Between moving parts, heavy machinery and poor environmental conditions, any number of items can turn a normal work day into a more hazardous one. Oil drilling equipment manufacturers, the government and employers all work together to try to improve the safety and working conditions on petroleum drilling equipment.

Anyone who operates a drilling rig should have a safety plan in effect. Everyone on the job site should be familiar with the procedures in the plan. The plan should cover:

1. Safety precautions to use as the drilling rig is set up.

2. Safe procedures for the day-to-day operations of the oil drilling machinery.

3. Safety precautions for tearing down and moving the drilling machine.

 

Get familiar with general safety practices for drilling equipment

The United States government and state governments have safety checklists for you to follow as you operate drilling equipment. A thorough knowledge of these safety practices can make the operation of your drilling equipment much safer.
Try: The United States Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration has a number of links that pertain to drilling equipment safety. You can find guidelines for the specific drilling rig you operate, and also safe procedures for rig maintenance and operation. Excalibur Drilling lists job expectations for its employees to ensure safety on drilling equipment. These guidelines are typical requirements just about anywhere.

Make safety training mandatory for work on your drilling equipment

Whether you purchase training manuals or have live training, each person on your payroll that goes on the job site should be familiar with safety practices. You can offer training videos or online training. Another option is to send one person for a training workshop and let them come back to offer drilling equipment safety training for your staff.
Try: The Association of Equipment Manufacturers offers a safety manual for directional tracking equipment for oil drilling machinery. This manual is a supplement to the safety procedure manual that came with your oil drilling equipment. Maritime Drilling Schools offers drilling safety manager training classes, as well as safety training for general work on offshore drilling equipment.

Stock safety equipment for work on drilling equipment

Know what your workers need to wear to operate the machinery safely. Keep that equipment on hand at all times. Make sure the workers wear their personal protection equipment, or PPE, at all times while on the drilling site.
Try: Get a checklist of common items of personal protection equipment for oil drilling rigs at the Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health. Atlantic Drilling Supply stocks safety equipment for oil drill equipment.

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