Given the “essential” nature of the job, most drillers—especially those in water well and energy drilling—have worked right through the pandemic. Of course, steps have been taken to enhance worker safety and mitigate risks at each stage, but are people still following these protocols?
We’re witnessing a resurgence of COVID-19 cases around the world, with human behavior playing a major part. Cellphone data shows that fewer people are social distancing and cooperation has decreased over the last few months. As winter rolls around, we can expect the number of cases to increase further because viruses tend to survive longer in colder, humid conditions. Additionally, people are more likely to go out and engage in social activities during the holiday season.
So as the pandemic drags on, what can drillers do to keep themselves, their crews, and their family members safe? Let’s take a look.
Watch Out for Symptoms
By now, most people know about the primary symptoms of COVID-19: cough, sore throat, fever, and loss of taste or smell. The issue is that many of these symptoms closely mimic regular seasonal flu, and it’s hard to know the difference without a test.
The CDC has recommended that people should get age-appropriate flu shots and lower the risk of influenza. Flu vaccines protect your respiratory system and also rule out the common cold when you exhibit symptoms of COVID-19.
Mask Up
Moving on to one of the more controversial aspects of COVID-19 safety protocols: masks.
COVID-19 has undoubtedly disrupted our lives to a great extent. The uncertainty surrounding the pandemic has a lot of people chasing the normal. Unfortunately, we have to come to terms with the fact that things aren’t normal. We can’t afford to let our guards down just yet.
Although lockdown protocols have relaxed, we still need to do be careful. This means maintaining physical distance from others and wearing a face-covering in public. On oil rigs, masks should be treated no differently than other personal protective equipment (PPE), such as earplugs or hard hats.
Washing Hands Regularly
Having worked all through these last few months, drillers may be tempted to overlook certain safety guidelines. However, social distancing guidelines are equally important on the jobsite as any other public locations. Handwashing continues to be the most effective technique to prevent the virus from spreading. When switching tasks or equipment, wash hands using soap and running water and dry hands thoroughly afterward.
As a leading OEM supplier and manufacturer of process instrumentation equipment in Canada and the United States, we’re committed to the safety and wellbeing of all drilling rig personnel. We offer a wide range of oil rig instrumentation products, including weight indicators systems, torque gauges & systems, pump stands, and custom cables designed to enhance worker safety and process efficiency. For more information, contact us now.