ISCOSA TRAINING CENTER

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH

MANAGEMENT - OSHA

LESSON 2
Basic Safety Orientation
Introduction to Company Policies

If you think your company is not serious about its no-drugs-or-alcohol policy, think
again. As a condition of your employment, your company has the right to inspect your
personal belongings and ask for urine. Blood, or hair sample for drug testing at any
time, at random. You never know when they’re going to ask but you can be sure of
one thing: they will ask. Of course, if you’re taking a prescription medicine, show it to
your company human resource manager or supervisor. He or she will want to know
what the medicine is and what you have to take it for. And, they’ll want to know if
you’re severely allergic to anything — like penicillin or bee stings, for instance. Also,
be aware that your company has sanitation, hygiene, and smoking limitations that you
have to follow.

The Drilling industry works twenty-four seven — that is, twenty-four hours a day,
seven days a week. So. rig crews and the many support contractors who work with
them are present around the clock. The hours depend a lot on where the rig is. But
most crews work twelve hours on and twelve hours off, seven days a week. So. You
may work, say. From six in the morning until six in the evening or from six in the
evening until six in the morning. You will probably work seven days a week, although
that may vary too, depending upon your particular job and company. As for getting to
the rig, in some places. You will car pool with the other crewmembers. On the other
hand, if your rig’s in a remote location, you may actually eat and sleep on the site
when you’re off duty. The company provides food and housing in such cases. Often,
they are called camps.

Fig. 2-1.

Lesson 2 Code: SEC-COA-MG1A 11

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
MANAGEMENT - OSHA

Company Safe Work Practices and Policies

While working at the rig site, you need to be aware of other important company
policies. For instance: what to do in emergencies your supervisor will brief you about
what to do and where to go. For example, you win notice brightly flashing lights if a
poisonous gas like hydrogen sulfide escapes from the well. Also, a loud horn will
sound. If you hear or see an alarm, most likely you will be directed to a safe area.

Fire extinguishers can make a big difference if a fire breaks out Putting out a small fire
is much easier than fighting a big one. Know where the extinguishers are on your rig.
You’ll be taught how to use and maintain them. Wrenches are important. Too, because
crewmembers use them to close special valves in the drill string to stop flow up the
pipe. They have a special place on the rig. So, don’t ever move them elsewhere unless
your supervisor tells you to. If your rig is drilling where the well may release
poisonous H2S gas. your supervisor will show you exactly what to do. For example,
your supervisor will show you how to put on a self-contained breathing apparatus
(SCBA) in case it’s needed.

Remember, your rig has a plan to tell you exactly what to do in emergencies that not
only covers fires and poison gas, but also any unusual occurrence. If your rig’s
location is near a town or city, your supervisor will post emergency phone numbers.
Know they are there and be ready to follow response procedures.

Fig. 2-2.

While at work, be careful not to spill anything on the ground or on the rig floor that
could be washed onto the ground. If, however, a spill does happen, you must report it
then you can begin property cleaning it up wearing the appropriate personal protective
equipment. You should find trash barrels at convenient spots located all over the rig.
So, don’t be a slob: put all waste paper, paper cups, and wrappers. And the like in the
trash barrels

12 Code: SEC-COA-MG1A Lesson 2

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
MANAGEMENT - OSHA

However don’t put anything in them that could be hazardous, such as a lit cigarette,
cleaning solvents, paint thinner, and dirty, oily rags.

Fig. 2-3.

There will be a special container for dirty, oily rags. This will prevent spontaneous
combustion where oily rags can burst into flames on their own, without a source of
ignition. There will also be clearly marked, designated areas for smoking. Be sure to
use designated ashtrays for safe disposal of your cigarette butts.

Your rig may have a medic on hand if so. The medic can help all crewmembers with
any medical problems. A well stocked first-aid kit can help treat minor wounds and
prevent infection. A person trained in first aid is ready to use them when required.
Also, eye wash stations are available to flood your eyes with clean water if you get
something in them. A shower station is available to quickly wash harmful materials
off your body.

All cell phones must be turned off when at the rig. Not only is a call while you’re
working a bad distraction, but cell phones hare also been known to prematurely set
off the explosives in equipment used in completing a well In fact, when specialists are
using explosives on the rig. no welding Is allowed nor is the use of two-way radios,
pagers, or other communication devices.

Everybody gets dirty doing rig work, its part of the job. But, hey, just because the
work’s dirty doesn’t mean you have to stay dirty all the time. Personal hygiene is
important. Plus, cleanliness is good for your own health and safety. For example. if
you get a flammable substance on your clothes, change immediately. The clothes
could easily catch fire while rough housing may seem harmless. it can cause an
accident and someone can get seriously injured So, no horseplay!

Lesson 2 Code: SEC-COA-MG1A 13

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
MANAGEMENT - OSHA

Hazard Awareness - How to Keep Your Body

This section covers several hazards you need to know about while working around
drilling operations and rigs. Be alert to jobs where your hands and fingers can be
pinched by parts of a tool or another piece of equipment. For instance, when attaching,
or latching, the tongs — big wrenches used to screw and unscrew (make up and break
out) joints of pipe — onto drill pipe, it’s easy to get a finger or hand pinched by the
jaws and other parts of the tongs. Be aware at all times of where you place your hands,
not only on tongs, but anytime two or more metal parts could pinch your hand or
fingers. Keep your body in a position where it cannot get caught between the tongs
and any part of the rig should the tongs unexpectedly become disengaged from the
pipe.

Fig. 2-4.

As you know, a drilling rig has a tall derrick. In fact, it’s usually taller than a hundred
feet, depending on the rig’s overall size For various reasons, personnel often have to
work those heights using hand tools and other devices and sometimes equipment can
be dropped

So, when somebody’s working on the derrick, stay out of the way. This warning holds
not only for the derrick, but also for any place where someone is working above you.

A rig is a conglomeration of thousands of parts all working together. Sometimes.

there’s just no way to avoid a place where two different rig parts come together and
leave a little ledge that you could trip over. If your rig has such a place, keep it in mind
as you go about your work. Another important safe practice is good housekeeping.
Keeping the rig clean eliminates hazards. So. pick up trash and property dispose of it.
Clean all tools when you’re through using them and put them in their proper place. In
general. do what you can to keep everything looking good and in order. Washing the
rig floor is good too, but beware of the wet slippery surfaces. Slippery surfaces may be
caused by frequent rains and also when breaking out a joint One precaution you can

14 Code: SEC-COA-MG1A Lesson 2

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
MANAGEMENT - OSHA
take is to always use the handrails. This is true whether the stairway or walkway is
slippery or not. The rule is to keep at least one hand always on the rail as you walk up
or down the stairs. Sometimes, you may need to carry something up to the floor that’s
too heavy.

Fig. 2-5.

Lesson 2 Code: SEC-COA-MG1A 15

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OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
MANAGEMENT - OSHA

NOTES:

16 Code: SEC-COA-MG1A Lesson 2