Greetings and salutations! Welcome back to this month’s discussion on Safety in the Permian Basin! Let’s get right to it. As you are keenly aware, the global and stateside political climate is strained. (That’s like calling Moby Dick a guppy.) Tension in the Middle East is also high. American society is divided and in a tense state as well. I say all this as prelude to this month’s topic, which is situational awareness.
Situation awareness is “the perception of environmental elements and events with respect to time or space, the comprehension of their meaning, and the projection of their future status.” Situational awareness in regards to safety is being aware of what is happening around you in terms of where you are, where you are supposed to be, and whether anyone or anything around you is a threat to your health, safety, and wellbeing.
After visiting with a local FBI agent at a safety meeting presentation, I can say that the Permian Basin, make no mistake about it, is a potential target for foreign and/or domestic acts of terror. If everyone is driving or walking with their phones in their face, it is unlikely that they will see something in order to say something. Most people who encounter acts of terrorism admit afterward that they never thought it would happen to them. The same holds true in the oilfield. Everyone is anesthetized by the daily goings-on at their daily job. They become numb to their surroundings and are oblivious to hazardous surroundings that are abnormal. Then, when the unthinkable happens, others are quick to point out that the people who were present should have noticed something wrong about the overall picture of the events that unfolded.
There are ways to combat this habit of glossing over apparent dangers. The best method is training individuals on how to heighten their awareness. If you speak to any LEO (law enforcement officer) you’ll notice that they pick up clues to a potential situation before most other people even notice. They have been trained. A good friend of mine, one who used to be in the National Guard back in the ’70s, indicated that, during riot training, it was prudent to be on the lookout for the ones that are troublemakers by identifying which ones had prominently displayed tattoos. That obviously wouldn’t apply to today’s world. The point is you have to train people to be aware of their surroundings. It’s almost like walking around and playing the “what if” game. What if the person next to you is wearing a long coat, seems to be troubled, and is wearing a fake beard and acting weirdly? What would you do if he pulled a weapon out? This scenario did happen at the Fort Worth church shooting. When shopping with your significant other, are you looking at where the emergency exits are? I do not advocate that everyone go looking for bad things to happen. However, you must always be cognizant of your surroundings. Below is a list of some things you can do and some things you should not do.
• Keep your heads up and out of your phones while you are in public.
• Pay attention to your surroundings and make mental notes of the locations of the nearest exits.
• Have no less than half a tank of gas in your vehicle at all times.
• Make sure your phone is charged when going out.
• Always try to have a small medical kit handy.
• Try to always have a flashlight handy (car, home, etc.)
• Always carry or have handy a sturdy, lockable knife.
• Avoid stupid places, with stupid people, doing stupid things. (Duh… lol)
• Trust your instincts. If a place does not look secure or stable, heed your instincts.
If something doesn’t look right, it probably isn’t. (Erratic behaviors, etc.)
Don’t let someone else’s selective ignorance deter you from being Properly Prepared to Provide Protection to you, your family or employees.
Additional information may be found on the website www.dhs.gov.As long as you are aware of your surroundings and you train yourself on what to do in different scenarios, you will always have a better chance of survival. This article is not just about terrorism or violence. The same precautions are pertinent in your work environment. You should be on guard for any hazards and have a plan to mitigate those hazards.
Regarding the terrorism threats, here is how you can help.
• Report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement.
• Report suspicious activity or information about a threat, including online activity to the FBI’s field offices as part of the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative.
• Connect, Plan, Train, and Report. Prepare businesses and employees. Many security tools and resources can be accessed through the DHS’s Hometown Security Campaign.
The oilfield is dangerous. The times we live in are becoming increasingly dangerous as well. Teach your kids what to do, where to get help, and how to stay aware in the event of bad situations. Driving in the Permian Basin is risky enough without additional worries. It’s like the Boy Scouts of America’s motto: “Be Prepared.” There is also training for “active shooters,” as to what to do in those situations.
So there you have it. I am not trying to be Debbie Downer. The times, they are a-changin’, some for the good, some… not so much. So, in the workplace, out in the field, or just in plain everyday life, it is critical to raise your awareness and avoid hazards, as well as to maintain your love of life and your passion to keep those around you safe. Be alert and please, give those phones a rest. Let’s remember as it is in baseball; it’s how many times we reach home safely that counts. Stay safe and God bless.
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Dusty Roach is a safety professional based in Midland. He is also a public speaker on subjects of leadership and safety, and he maintains a personal website at dustyroach.com.