Oil drilling is commonly known to be one of the most dangerous occupations around. Although safety measures have significantly improved over the past few decades, oil drilling remains quite dangerous. Over the years, there have been many high-profile disasters in the news, highlighting the dangers crew workers face.
However, with the right drilling instrumentation, safety procedures, and protective equipment, oil drilling can be made much safer. We’ll break down how that’s possible:
Right Instruments
Many oil rig accidents happen because of malfunctioning or improper use of instruments. For instance, the Piper Sea Oil explosion occurred because of poor communication and the inappropriate use of safety instruments. If the safety valves had been closed correctly, other crew members might not have been able to turn it on, igniting the fire.
Researchers in the field have studied the importance of instruments in oil drilling safety. They’ve concluded that implementing the right drilling instruments smoothed the drilling process significantly, mainly offshore. This resulted in fewer errors and fewer incidents of oil rig injuries and fatalities.
Safety Procedures
Another aspect of the oil drilling that contributes towards security is the safety procedures implemented by the management. Industry experts have said that the best way to reduce workplace accidents is to embed a “safety-first” attitude within the team.
For instance, crew members should always be reminded of the importance of maintaining a safe work environment and following the rules and regulations. Furthermore, new and transferred employees should be given safety orientations to ensure that they know what a safe environment looks like and how to achieve it. Lastly, oil companies should update their safety training as the industry’s safety procedures evolve.
Protective Equipment
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential to maintain safety at oil rigs. Standard protective equipment includes safety glasses, hard hats, gloves, steel-toed boots, respirators, and fire-resistant clothing.
Additionally, there should be inspectors on-site to ensure crew members are using proper protective equipment. These inspectors should know about all the potential hazards and how they can be prevented, especially with protective gear. A crew member who deviates even slightly from the enforced upon PPE should not be allowed on the platform.
Proper drilling rig instrumentation is a significant part of drilling safety. At Contact Instruments, we take security very seriously in the products we provide. These products include Electronic Gauges, weight indicator systems, and trash pump parts, all of which meet high safety standards. We’ve got experience of 90 years in the Alberta Oil and Gas Industry. Contact us for more information.