Why Have Safety Meetings?

Records indicate that drillers who regularly hold crew safety meetings have fewer accidents, less drilling trouble and do a better over-all job than drillers who do not hold these meetings regularly.  This is readily understandable because these meetings are teaching the men to think and plan their work and perform it in a safe manner.

Each drilling crew should hold a meeting regularly.  However, when particularly hazardous jobs come up, the driller should call his crew together as soon as possible in order to acquaint each crew member with the procedures that are to be used in order to do this job safety and efficiently.  Other suitable times for these meetings are when first coming on tour at the beginning of a new week, before or after the rig is being greased, or while the men are eating lunch.  A very good time to hold a safety meeting is when all three crews are together when rigging up or tearing down.

The very next time that your crew has a safety meeting, try one of the following subjects:

1. Discuss company safety policies, rules, methods and the safety awards program.
2. Get the toolpusher to join your meeting and discuss things which are unsafe around the rig.
3. Instruct the new crew members in the proper use of such equipment as hand tools, tongs, slips, catheads, spinning lines, and the proper handling of pipe, etc. This will supply an almost endless amount of good, live material.
4. Since so many of our accidents are due to unsafe acts, frequently the discussion should be devoted to unsafe acts observed by any of the crew members. This discussion, of course, should not be done in a critical manner but with a friendly and co-operative attitude. You are trying to prevent accidents, not reprimand workers.
5. Talk about teamwork. Employees need to work as a team around the rig.  A person who pays attention and takes an interest in the work is less apt to get hurt.
6. There are times when there are unsafe things on the rig which cannot be fixed until parts, or whatever is needed, can be delivered. Make certain that your crew, and your relief crew, know about the unsafe equipment.
7. A drilling crew can be accurately judged by housekeeping around the rig and for this reason, housekeeping should be a frequent subject in the safety meetings. Housekeeping and fire prevention go hand in hand so that fire prevention and the prevention of burns to employees will also be a frequent subject.
8. Discuss how cooperation between the crews can prevent accidents. Every crew member sees that his coworkers are safe.
9. Have a meeting and review the methods of tripping. If a crew change is made during the operation, make sure that the new crew knows exactly what has been done.
10. Review the safe way of making a drill line cut or stringing up a sand line. A slip of the chain could mean a death on the floor.
11. Talk about the importance of dressing safely. Wear long sleeve coveralls, safety hats, safety shoes, safety glasses (goggles when needed), good gloves that fit (not gauntlet type).  Discuss the dangers of loose and floppy clothing.
12. Have a group discussion on first aid and how to treat specific types of injuries which are most likely to occur on a rig. At the same meeting, take a good look at your first aid kit and order items you need to keep it fully equipped.