Season’s Greetings and salutations my friends! I hope this month’s message finds you safe and prosperous. Instead of the usual oilfield safety conversation, this month will be on holiday safety, which pertains to all of us, especially our family and friends. As you know, the holiday season is not necessarily a happy occasion for us all. The memories evoke feelings of lost friends, family members. The holidays also bring new memories! Emotions run high. Sometimes money is tight. The days are shorter and the nights are longer. The oil wells in the field don’t know if it’s Christmas, Hanukah, or the Fourth of July. The “patch” must go on. There is a lot of pressure leading up to and during the season.
While I was working overseas, there were times that all I could do was wish my family a Merry Christmas while my wife took care of the kids, decorated the house, and did all the shopping. I was thousands of miles away… working. There was that kind of pressure as well. I must confess that my being overseas didn’t have anything to do with my wife doing all the shopping; she still does, but I digress.
The message for this month is to Be Safe, as it is every month. The holidays bring additional hazards in and of themselves. There are decorations that need to be put up. The lights on the roof are beautiful and capture the imagination of the young ones. Every year there are accidents with people trying to do their own decorations on the roof. Ahh, ladder safety, I won’t go through the details of ladder safety, but there are accidents every year without exception—falling from roofs and ladders. Then there is electrical safety. Putting up Christmas tree lights, whether inside or outside, are my favorite part of the season, said no one ever. We in the oilfield like to get one big junction box or power strip and plug as many electrical devices into the one power strip. If we need more, we just get another power strip and plug it in to the one we currently have. Electrical fires during Christmas has burned down many houses. I think the local fire department would corroborate that.
Another hazard that is exacerbated during the season are the highways. If you are anywhere around the Permian Basin, it’s bad enough without seasonal traffic. The weather is also a factor that does not always cooperate in terms of road conditions. Each Christmas I read of fatalities of someone traveling from far away who is not going to make it home for the holiday. It is sad. Please don’t be that story.
Fatigue—I don’t know why it seems there is less time to get stuff done during this season. The last time I checked there are still 24 hours in a day, but it doesn’t seem like it. I can tell you, though, the Christmas season and New Year’s Day are pressure filled. But then again, you can call me Captain Obvious.
Every safety person I know genuinely cares for the safety of all the personnel they work for. All of the operations personnel, from the bottom to the top, also care for the safety and welfare of their employees. Every single person that I’ve met in the oilfield never said, “Dear, today is the day I won’t be back from work.” Everyone has the intention to return home safely. Some are willing to take what they believe are “small risks” to be back at home in time with their family.
This holiday season, take some time to mitigate the hazards that are associated with the holidays at home and at work. Take into consideration all the extra hazards you might face for you and your family. Plan your travel in advance. Ask yourself: what are the potential hazards? Plan on resting. Be aware of road conditions. Be aware of your surroundings. Shop early. Based on experience, I can advise you not to wait until the last minute to shop for your wife. A flower, 12 pack of soda, and a phone charger from the local convenience store, while you are driving in from work, is not a good idea for Christmas presents. This could also be an unknown hazard to your health. Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.
In all seriousness, I wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad, and a Happy New Year to all the men and women in the oilfield and their families. If Christmas is not your thing, it does not change the importance of you being safe during the holidays. We in the oilfield take pride in we what we do. We are the backbone of our nation’s prosperity. We work hard to be the best for our respective families. Take time to be safe. That is my sincere wish for all of you! Enjoy your family and the holidays! Remember the reason for the season!
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by Dusty Roach