Life on an offshore rig is as exciting as it is suspenseful. History is not lacking on tragic incidents occurring in these sites, and minor accidents on a day-to-day basis are not unheard of. After all, when you are at the mercy of the weather and the machines that surround you, it’s easy for situations to escalate from bad to worse.
More than mastering the basics of safety, there are other things you can do on the platform to reduce the risks to yourself and the people around you.
Machines First
The truth is that you could be spending more quality time with machines than with people. While it sounds illogical to prioritize devices, there’s wisdom in looking out most for the number one source of incidents. Apart from crush injuries and lacerations, they are also capable of fatal explosions. This puts their regular maintenance and proper handling a crucial part of your work on the rig.
One of the best ways to avoid dangerous incidents is to address machinery issues as soon as possible. The solutions could involve tapping the best custom spring manufacturer in Oklahoma or buying a new crawler crane from the Netherlands. Never underestimate these concerns because they might affect not only your work but also your life.
There are plenty of advanced tools in the market to optimize your performance. Keeping up with new technologies and solutions is to your advantage.
Exhausted Minds
Human error can make all your safety efforts fall flat. With the rigorous work involved in a place with no downtime, there’s plenty of opportunities for workers to make mistakes.
Each one in the team should feel free to communicate their physical and mental needs. Even a healthy person is prone to falling sick or anxious in an offshore location with a harsh environment. There is also the impact of not seeing your loved ones for weeks at a time. Combined with the stress of keeping up with deadlines and sustaining your productivity, it is possible to commit a mistake or two that you could’ve avoided if you were well.
Getting enough rest and recreation improves your safety, as well as that of everybody on the rig. It’s an alert mind that will keep you from trouble and help you respond in case of one.
More Plans
With the number of elements that can go against you in an oil rig, even a handful of plans won’t be enough to ensure your safety. It’s crucial to consider your workflow, oil rig structure, colleagues, and the weather in the creation of one. Factor in the things that can make a plan less efficient in certain conditions like storms and high tides. Doing so will lead you to adjustments like alternate routes to avoid slip-and-fall accidents.
There’s also the matter of making sure everybody on the rig knows the procedures by heart. Panic and confusion can cause more injuries than the actual emergency if people react in different ways to a given situation. The more alternatives you have and the better the people grasp them, the higher your chances of avoiding risks.
No matter the work environment, you can always improve your safety through cooperation and corrective action. Don’t delay your response to any concern, whether it’s about the machinery or a protocol. Above all, stay consistent in your efforts to minimize the risks to everyone on the platform. Safety is easier to achieve when everyone strives toward the same goal for the long haul.
