Offshore Drilling: Safety on the Sea

It’s no secret that the drilling industry is a risky career choice. The potential hazards can result in severe consequences. While critical safety measures have been put in place in recent years, there are still many process incidents to be aware of.

Offshore drilling differs from onshore drilling in a number of ways including the equipment, the work environment, and potential risks. Onshore drilling workers can return home after a hard day’s work while offshore workers cannot. While both types of drilling environments are intense, offshore drilling comes with its own set of safety considerations.

Recognizing Threats
The first step to protecting the environment and keeping your crew safe is to recognize and state the potential threats. If an oil spill occurs, there’s no doubt going to be extensive damage to the ocean’s ecosystem. What is your company doing to prevent this from happening?

Problems are inevitable; the key is to spot them and correct them before an accident occurs. Perform quantitative assessments to track risks. Analyze data based on other offshore accidents and have a plan in place.

Reducing Operator Errors
Offshore drilling equipment is complex and one seemingly small mishap can result in chaos. Venturing off to deeper waters requires even more advanced technology that is not invincible. That’s why it’s absolutely necessary to have regular training and tests to keep operations safe.

Technical Condition of Safety Equipment
The unpredictability of the weather presents engineering challenges to drilling equipment. Ice, hail, and storms threaten rig functions. It’s critical to test and re-test your machines to ensure they are safe under various offshore conditions.

Conclusion
Risk assessments and collecting data will help keep your offshore operations running smoothly. Furthermore, equipment tests, adequate repairs, and worker training will prevent catastrophic issues from occurring.