SPRING
2016
ISSUE
O5
SAFETY IN ACTION
Feature
COVER STORY
GIVE IT THE ONCE-OVER CHECKING OUT YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL COMPLIMENTARY COPY
GAME-CHANGING AND LIFE-SAVING RULES
Shift your work
PIPELINES TO SAFETY Field notes
BUSTING STRESS
Let’s Stand Up for Oil & Gas Families Help us Stand Up for Canadian Oil & Gas. Show your Oil Respect by: 1. Signing our petitions at www.oilrespect.ca 2. Writing your MLAs and MPs and telling them the energy industry is important to Canadian families 3. Wearing an Oil Respect t-shirt & putting an Oil Respect bumper sticker on your car 2
ENFORM.CA
SAFETY IN ACTION
SPRING 2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PUBLISHED BY
4 President & CEO Cameron MacGillivray Vice President, Communications & PetroLMI Carol Howes Manager, Communications Amy Krueger Editor Terry Bullick, Bullick Communications Design, Production & Project Management Kylie Henry & Katherine Stewart, Studio Forum Inc.
Contributors Jennifer Allford, Paula Arab, Canadian Energy Pipeline Association, Ensign, Mike Fisher, Anne Georg, Jon Gillies, Steven Hughes, Des Kilfoil, Scott Rollans, Amy Sawchenko, Jason Stang, Frankie Thornhill Printing McAra Printing, Calgary, Alta.
Statements, opinions and viewpoints expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent the views of Enform. Copyright 2016 by Enform. Canada Post Publication Mail Agreement #40006922 For advertising rates or for consent to reprint or redistribute content in the publication, contact Enform at: communications@enform.ca. Head Office: 5055 - 11 Street NE, Calgary, Alta, T2E 8N4 P 403.516.8000Â | F 403.516.8166
ON AND OFF
18
THE JOB
CHECKING
Friendly advice and firm direction
OUT YOUR VEHICLE
5
GIVE IT THE ONCE-OVER
LIFELINES
Spot the hazards Too hot to handle Find your axe The anatomy of an axe It's a trap Knots for you
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20 FEATURE
Game-changing and life-saving rules
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INTELLIGENT GEAR
Coveralls worthy of respect
SAFE COMPANY
Rising to meet higher expectations
10 SHIFT YOUR WORK
Pipelines to safety
12 NATURAL CAN BE HAZARDOUS
Oil & gas & . . . mud
Enrolment Services & Certificate of Recognition: 1.800.667.5557 enform.ca
25 FIELD NOTES
Busting stress
28 ALCOHOL DRUGS OIL GAS
Here's what you need to know
30 HOME SAFE
To read this publication online visit enform.ca
A brush with a combine sparks an awakening
ON THE COVER
Check it out: Leah Hallman, a second-year power engineering student at SAIT, behind the wheel of a Ford Tonka F150 from Maclin Ford in Bragg Creek, Alta. Photograph by Jason Stang; story on page 18.
To learn more about your safety and what Enform is doing to help you protect yourself, follow us on
Frontline Spring 2016
3
On and off the job
FRIENDLY ADVICE AND FIRM DIRECTION
Your vehicle. It’s more than a car or a truck. It’s a personal brand. What you drive says a lot about you. How you drive it says even more. Good driving begins before you get behind the wheel and start the engine. Give It the Once-over story on page 10 offers quick tips to make sure your vehicle is roadworthy, before you hit the road. Driving is a big part of life in oil and gas. And getting to where you’re going—and back again—safely can depend on the few minutes you take to check your tires, lights and fluids. In this issue of Frontline, we also offer tips on how to bust stress. Stress is not something all people—especially men— feel comfortable talking about. And, yet, talking about stress is one of the most effective ways to get rid if it. You’ll find those tips on page 25. Tips are useful, friendly advice. Rules, however, are firm directions you’re expected to know and follow. In the oil and gas industry, rules often vary from worksite to worksite. Our story GameChanging, Life-Saving Rules talks about why companies are adopting a set of standard rules. “We’re trying to make safety much easier to understand and less confusing for workers,” says Tim Gondek, the executive director of Oil Sands Safety Association, or OSSA. “Ultimately, we would like to see standard rules across the industry and from company to company and region to region.”
Behind every tip and rule in the oilfield is something you can’t always see: a commitment to reduce and prevent injuries and fatalities.
Cameron MacGillivray Enform President & CEO
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Spot the hazards
Too hot to handle
LIFELINES
WRITTEN BY JENNIFER ALLFORD
SPOT THE HAZARDS Fast, furious and dangerous. That’s what it’s like to be hit by something with force in the oil and gas industry. Being struck by an object is a leading cause of injury. Avoid and prevent anything from hitting or striking you or others by knowing your surroundings and looking out for hazards. And work to reduce those risks. How many hazards can you find in this illustration? Clue: We counted six.
ILLUSTRATION BY STEVEN HUGHES
TOO HOT TO HANDLE
We get it, you gotta have your caffeine. But drinking it while behind the wheel can be downright dangerous.
Taking your eyes off the road for just a few seconds —to grab for your cup of morning joe, or fiddle with the finicky plastic lid from the drive-through— doubles your chance of being in a crash.
SO BEFORE YOU AND YOUR COFFEE HIT THE ROAD: Make sure the lid is on properly and place your double-double in your vehicle’s cupholder. // Do not hold your coffee while driving. // Your legs are poor coffee holders. And you do not want to burn what you've got going on between them.
section of pipe on drill floor. 5. Unsecured pipe on forklift. 6. Vac truck hose improperly connected. SPOT THE HAZARDS ANSWERS : Clockwise from top left: 1. Dead tree dangerous in wind. 2. Loose tools above drill floor. 3. Unharnessed worker above drill floor. 4. Swinging
Frontline Spring 2016
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Find your axe
The anatomy of an axe
FIND YOUR AXE JUST AS ONE AXE DOES NOT FIT ALL, NOT ALL AXES ARE CREATED EQUAL. That’s immediately apparent the moment you put a Gränsfors Bruk axe in your hand. From its throat on up its belly and back to its cutting edge, a Gränsfors Bruk axe is a painstakingly made precision tool of forged Swedish steel and American hickory. In other words, worthy. The company makes several models, among them:
WILDLIFE HATCHET
A smaller, lighter tool with a 75-mm face and one-pound head. Packs easily or can be worn on your belt. Perfect for camping. Lets you chop wood and split sticks for the fire while reminiscing about past trips.
LARGE SPLITTING AXE
If your fireplace burns wood, this is the axe for splitting chunks or “rounds.” Its concave wedge head weighs 1.5 kg and has a 75-mm face. It powers through the wood grain,testing the adage that wood warms you twice: once when cutting it and once when burning it.
AMERICAN FELLING AXE
Use this axe to cut down a tree when you don’t want to fire up a chain saw. This is the axe Paul Bunyon would have used to clear a forest. Its head weighs 1.5 kg and the bit face (cutting edge) is 112 mm.
THE ANATOMY OF AN AXE
Available at Canadian Outdoor Equipment (canadianoutdoorequipment.com).
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4
2
6
5 1
3
7 8
4. EYE
The slot where head and haft meet, held
in place by a wooden and a steel wedge.
5. CHEEK
The wide, flat side of the head.
HEAD
The business end of an axe; made of
low- or high-carbon steel.
6. BUTT
HAFT
Or handle, often made of wood.
7. SHOULDER
1. TOE AND HEEL
The upper and lower corners,
respectively, of the blade or bit.
2. BIT
The axe’s blade or cutting edge.
3. BEARD
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IN OUR NEXT ISSUE: how to sharpen an axe.
The underside of the head.
enform.ca
The back of the head, also known as the poll.
8. BELLY 9. THROAT 9 10
The upper haft.
The gently curved and longest part of the haft. The curved part of the haft below the belly.
10. GRIP AND KNOB
The knob helps keep the user’s
hand in place during the swing.
It's a trap
Knots for you
LIFELINES
KNOTS FOR YOU
IT’S A TRAP Vern Miskosky by his marten and fisher set, called a horizontal box set. The box is baited and a Conibear trap placed in the entrance.
From tying your shoelaces to splicing a rope, it all comes down to the right knot. Learn these must-know knots and you’ll find yourself using them for life. PHOTO SUPPLIED BY ALBERTA TRAPPERS' ASSOCIATION
The bowline is used in sailing, emergency rescues and tying down objects.
Big in sailing and rock climbing, the figure eight is a stopper knot—it keeps a line from running through devices such as pulleys.
The anchor bend is used to attach a rope to a ring, anchor or shackle.
Some 50,000 commercial trappers harvest about 750,000 wildlife pelts (badgers, coyotes, wolves and more) in Canada every year.
“Trappers tend to practise their trade in areas far IF YOU ENCOUNTER AN removed from human activity,” ANIMAL CAUGHT IN A TRAP, says Brendan Cox, a public DO NOT TRY TO RELEASE IT affairs officer with the Alberta government’s Justice and Their traps come in several forms (wire loops, Solicitor General department. “If someone chain, cables and jaws) and are set in many sees a trap in the wild . . . our advice is to leave it areas, from prairies and foothills to boreal alone and to leave the area.” forests and mountains. If you come across one, If you do encounter an animal caught in a trap leave it alone—it’s illegal to tamper with or or snare, do not try to release it. While it may remove a legal trap. Carefully leave the area. If look docile, wild animals are not used to human the trap needs to be removed so you can work in contact and you could be seriously injured. the area, let local fish and wildlife officers know Trappers must check their traps every 24 or where you spotted it. 48 hours, depending on the type of licence.
Angler’s loop works great with fine or slippery lines as well as bungee cords.
A reef knot is commonly used to tie two lines together.
The Prusik knot, named for a mountaineer, loops a cord around a rope. Used most often in mountain climbing, rescue operations and tree pruning. SOURCE: What Knot To Do in the Great Outdoors app by Columbia Sportswear; available on iTunes.
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Intelligent gear
If the denim jacket is Canada’s tuxedo, then coveralls are the nation’s everyday suit. You might say you don’t give a squat about looking good, but research at the University of Alberta found oilpatch workers do not want to look “stupid” in protective gear. These coveralls will keep you looking smart—and sharp.
Not only that, they’ll protect you against hazards such as fire, muck and oil. They’re also a handy place to store essential tools and gadgets, and will help keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. With their practical good looks and features, your coveralls make a bold statement: they say you’re dressed for work in the field— and that you mean business.
WRITTEN BY MIKE FISHER PHOTOGRAPHED BY AMY SAWCHENKO COVERALLS PROVIDED BY ACKLANDS GRAINGER
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COVERALLS WORTHY 1
2
PAT GELLATELY MOUNTAIN VIEW WELL OPERATORS
BUCK EDGE DIAMOND E OILFIELD SERVICES LTD.
In Bulwark Premium Coverall with Reflective Trim – Nomex® IIIA
In Bulwark Premium Coverall with Reflective Trim – EXCEL FR ComforTouch®
OF RESPECT
FLAME-RESISTANT FABRIC
Flame-resistant (FR) fabric is created two ways: one is by rolling cotton through a chemical treatment; the other is by weaving yarn or thread that is flame-resistant, which is usually less breathable.
1 PREMIUM COVERALL WITH REFLECTIVE TRIM – NOMEX® IIIA
Like any well-cut jacket, these Nomex coveralls have a deep-pleated action back, so your arms can move with ease in tight spaces and around equipment. They're warm and have room for street clothes underneath. Other features: a rule pocket on the right leg and fireresistant fabric.
2 PREMIUM COVERALL 3 CAM SMITH C.S.H.R. LTD. In Carhartt 100% FR Treated Cotton Coverall Carhartt
WITH REFLECTIVE TRIM – EXCEL FR COMFORTOUCH®
The Excel delivers comfort and lots of features such as a stand-up, two-way safety collar; two-way concealed Nomex® taped brass breakaway zipper and concealed snap at the top of the zipper and neck. Other stuff to love: can be washed at home and the hip and chest pockets and side vent openings have snap closures.
3 THE 100% FR
TREATED COTTON COVERALL CARHARTT
When standing out counts, these Carhartt coveralls do the job with Reflective 3M™, Scotchlite ™ trim. They also meet the performance requirements of NFPA 70E and is UL Classified to NFPA 2112 – so you get electrical safety as well as protection against flash fire. Bonus feature: a Nomex mesh gas monitor pocket over the right chest pocket has a microphone loop that keeps you hands-free. Frontline Spring 2016
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Shift your work
WRITTEN BY PAULA ARAB PHOTOGRAPHY SUPPLIED BY CANADIAN ENERGY PIPELINE ASSOCIATION
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Pipelines criss-cross the country. They carry liquids and natural gas from Fort Nelson, B.C. to Sumac, Wash., and between Goldboro, N.S., and Dracut, Maine. Enbridge’s Main Canadian Line is a 2,300-kilometre shipping route for crude oil and diluted bitumen that begins in Edmonton and ultimately ends in Montreal. Super highways of the oil and gas industry, pipelines cover some 73,000 kilometres in Canada, travelling across, under and over some of the most rugged terrain in the world. Pipelines are designed, built and maintained with safety in mind. One of the safest sectors of the oil and gas industry, pipelines, however, still have their hazards.
SAFE BY DESIGN
CONSTRUCTION
Pipeline safety begins long before a single piece of survey tape is ever tied. Risks are assessed well before heading into the field to prepare for anything and everything that can go wrong, says Patrick Smyth, vice president of Safety and Engineering with the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association (CEPA).
Building a pipeline of any length is no small task— and it’s messy, mucky work. Digging dangers are constant through every step of construction: trees are being cleared and trenches being dug. Equipment and people are always moving.
Lots of risks come with the territory: the geography can include muskeg, valleys, lakes and rivers. The weather, well you know the Canadian weather. Pipelines can be famously remote, making communication spotty. And don’t forget the wildlife: from bears right on down to blackflies. “On the Prairies,it’s easy to see from point A to point B. The hazards can be minimal,” Smyth says. “But when you get into an area such as B.C., there are a lot of rivers, lakes and marshes as well as mountains and trees. All of these things need to be taken into consideration before you get out into the field.”
MUSKEG MISERY The muddy, slimy, mossy bog terrain common in northern Alberta is one natural hazard that causes all kinds of grief. “I hate working in muskeg,” Smyth says. “You just never know if you step in it if you are going to go down six inches or six feet.” In the winter, muskeg can be frozen solid. In the spring and fall, it can be covered with a layer of ice. For the rest of the year, it is a murky, percolating combination of acidic soil, water, vegetation and peat. At sites with muskeg, workers often create temporary platforms using large wooden pallets. They pile the pallets on top of each other until they stop sinking and can hold the weight of the equipment and personnel required to do the job.
SHOO FLIES Some bugs annoy. Blackflies harass, especially in the morning, late afternoon, early evening or when storm clouds are present. They’re the last thing anyone needs. Pipeline workers reduce blackfly harassment by: Wearing repellants that contain DEET (N,Ndiethyl-m-toluamide), 6-12 (2-ethyl-1, 3 hexanediol), citronyl and dimethyl phthalate. Wearing loose-fitting clothes with zippers, fastened shirt sleeves and pants tucked into socks or boots. Avoid the colours blackflies swarm to: black, dark brown, blue and purple.
Workers stay safe by staying alert. They keep their eyes open and watch out for each other, mindful that those operating heavy machinery don’t always have the best line of vision, says Smyth. “There are a lot more risks and hazards and moving parts that you need to be aware of during the construction phase than the operation phase,” he says. Safety here includes: Shaded glasses to protect eyes when pipes are being welded together. Being aware of heavy equipment that’s slinging large pieces of pipe and metal.
WORKING ALONE The pipeline industry often requires workers to carry out their duties on their own. Working alone, whether in a control room or inspecting a line in the field, is riskier than working with others. Workers follow their company’s policy for checking in. The typical standard in oil and gas is every two hours, although individual companies will set the frequency for their own workers requiring regular contact with maintenance crews.
DRIVE SAFE As in all areas of oil and gas, driving in the pipeline industry is a high-ranking hazard. While pipeline workers have seen their driving records improve over the past dozen years; risks still exist because of the sheer number of hours spent behind the wheel, on rural and remote roads. If you’re a pipeline worker in the field, chances are pretty good you will eventually run into the unexpected: a bear, a blizzard, a blown-out tire or all three. Intense driver training is an important requirement before taking over driving responsibilities for the job, says Smyth. A robust inspection checklist prior to departure tire is also necessary. Among things to check: pressure, fluid levels, gas level, road conditions, expected weather, gas station locations. Also see page 18. emergency tool kit, Other basics include: detailed route map, blankets, water, warm clothes and food.
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Natural can be hazardous
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MUD. IT’S DIRTY, SLOPPY AND, WELL, PLAIN ANNOYING. UPSTREAM. DOWNSTREAM. AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN. ANYTHING THAT’S OUTSIDE IN OIL AND GAS HAS MUD—IN JUST ABOUT ANY KIND OF WEATHER. HERE’S OUR QUICK GUIDE TO GETTING THROUGH THE MUCK. WRITTEN BY SCOTT ROLLANS
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Natural can be hazardous
MIKE HOPWOOD'S OTHER TIPS INCLUDE: BE PREPARED Hope for the best and plan for
the worst. Vehicle: Carry the appropriate tires and equipment—including a winch. Secure your load properly. You: It’s always a good idea to bring extra food, an extra jacket or blanket, and a first aid kit. CALL AHEAD Tell someone where you’re going and when you expect to get there. If you do end up stranded, at least someone will come looking for you—and know where to look.
For more than M U D DY R OA D S
20 years, Mike Hopwood has taught light-truck
driving for Michelin/BFGoodrich HE KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT M U D A N D R OA D S .
“For me, it’s all about the challenge,” Hopwood says. “Can I get from A to B? Can I leave the path in a condition where the next vehicle can follow me through?” Not surprisingly, his top tip for anyone heading out into remote, muddy terrain is to have the right tires (his favoured model: the BFGoodrich Mud Terrain KM2).
NO SPINNING Don’t spin your tires. Balance your gearing and gas to provide only as much torque as you need to keep the vehicle moving forward. As when driving in snow, spinning your tires does more harm than good. USE MOMENTUM Again, this is a direct carry-over from winter driving. Find and maintain that balance between momentum and control. Continue moving forward if you can. Keep your wheels as straight as possible. RELIEVE THE PRESSURE Consider reducing your tire pressure. This can make a huge difference, particularly with specialized mud tires (in the case of the KM2 tire, this activates its “linear flex zone”). By reducing the air pressure, you increase each tire’s footprint—and, therefore, its traction. Meanwhile, a softer tire can partially wrap itself around an obstacle and grip it, rather than balancing on top. ASSESS THOROUGHLY Get out of your vehicle, and walk through the muddy area. How deep is it? Does it contain hidden hazards, such as tree limbs or sharp rocks? BE PREPARED TO BAIL Maybe your best move would be to simply turn around. There’s no point damaging your vehicle, or getting seriously stuck, out of pure stubbornness. CHECK YOUR OPTIONS If bailing is not an option, consider the others. Do you really have to get somewhere? At least take the time to develop a plan of action. Sometimes it helps to lay down some kind of traction aid, such as a bridging ladder. Or, run a winch line out and pull your vehicle through.
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MUD FLAPS: W O RT H I T ?
Your vehicle’s wheels can kick up an awful lot of mud, gravel, salt,
slush and dirt. Mud flaps deflect all that gunk back onto the road, protecting your vehicle from scratches and corrosion. They also deflect bad karma—after all, the person following you would rather not be hit with blinding spray or dangerous projectiles, thank you very much. Relatively inexpensive and easy to install, mud flaps can make a huge difference to the appearance and overall life of your vehicle. Are they worth it? We vote yes.
DRILLING FLUID 101
Often called drilling, drilling fluid is a carefully formulated mixture pumped into a borehole when drilling a well. Depending on the drilling conditions, it typically has a consistency of thick chocolate milk.
Drilling fluid is usually based on water- or oil-based mud—again, depending on the demands of the particular drilling situation. Water-based mud includes clay (often bentonite) and chemical additives to fine-tune the fluid’s properties.
Drilling mud keeps the drill bit cool while also carrying the cuttings up and out of the borehole, and helps to keep other fluids in the formation from entering the hole. Drilling Fluid also is used to drive the motors down hole.
Drilling fluid is collected, filtered and reused. Recently, this process has seen great advances, reducing clean-up costs and helping protect the environment.
The on-site drilling fluid fluids engineer (also know as the mud engineer or mud man) is a key member of any drilling operation.
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Natural can be hazardous
TRUCK STUCK?
Your best strategy? Don’t get stuck in the first place.
Before you head out, check the road reports— yes, even in the summer. Your local AMA constantly updates road conditions, including any road restrictions and road bans.
Safety first Maybe you’re not going to get out without help. If you’re stuck too deeply, or if it’s not safe to get out of your vehicle, call for roadside assistance.
Okay, so you did that, and you still ended up stuck in the mud? So, how do you get out?
Pause and observe If conditions allow, get out of your vehicle and take a good look at the situation. Lighten your load If you have passengers, ask them to get out as well. Dig! If possible, dig the mud out from around your power wheels (front, rear or all four, depending on your vehicle type).
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Add traction In the space around your power tires, add anything on hand that might aid traction—sticks, gravel, cat litter, whatever. In a pinch, try putting floor mats under the front edges of your tires, with the grippier surface facing down. If anyone’s behind the vehicle pushing, bear in mind that your traction aids could end up shooting out from under the vehicle. Rock and roll, baby! In the lowest gear, alternate between gently accelerating forward and backward. Avoid spinning your tires (it does no good, honestly!). Once you gain enough momentum, continue moving steadily until you’re clear of the mud.
IF YOU WORK IN THE FIELD AND HAVE TO GET A VEHICLE OUT OF THE MUD, PREVENT INJURY AND DAMAGE BY KNOWING THE BEST PRACTICES. Search enform.ca for “vehicle recovery and towing,” download and print the PDF guidelines, and keep them in your glovebox.
WHEN MUD HAPPENS…
GETTING MESSY
We get it. When you work hard or play hard, things can get messy. Here are some tips for getting mud out of carpets and clothes.
CARPET Let the mud dry completely. Trust us on this. If you try to deal with mud while it’s still wet, you’ll only drive it farther into the rug. Vacuum the area slowly and thoroughly, preferably with an agitator brush. Gently blot the spot using a cloth moistened with a detergent solution (1 tsp dishwashing liquid to 1 cup warm water). Rinse the cloth frequently, and continue blotting until the stain is gone.
CLOTHING For light mud stains that haven’t set completely, rinse the area under a warm tap, directing the water to the side of the fabric away from the mud. For heavier stains, first allow the mud to dry completely. Then, remove as much of it as possible with a brush or a dull blade like a table knife. Add a few drops of liquid detergent to the spot, and gently scrub with a toothbrush, on both sides of the fabric. Wash the garment as usual. Before you put it in the dryer, check that the stain is completely gone. (Running a stained garment through the dryer is always a bad idea.) If necessary, repeat the last two steps. If it’s just your work jeans, don’t bother with any of this. Mud stains add character!
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Field notes
GIVE IT THE ONCE-OVER Your truck may not have the showroom shine of this Ford Tonka F150, but bet you still feel a twinge of pride every time you walk up to it. Make the most of the bond with your vehicle and give it the once-over before you get behind the wheel. A quick inspection will keep the both of you running smoother and for longer.
BEGIN INSPECTING YOUR VEHICLE AS YOU WALK UP TO IT AND INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
LIFT THE HOOD leaking fluids.
Look for loose parts,
You never know EXTRAS, EXTRAS when you’ll need reflector devices, a first aid kit, booster cables or a tow strap. And in an emergency, you’ll be glad you packed water, food and an extra blanket or jacket. 18
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WTF (WATCH THE FLUIDS) Top up gas, wiper fluid, oil and the like. For good measure, check radiator and transmission fluid.
LIGHTS Working and visible (uh, clean) front, rear, brake, signal, dashboard and emergency flasher lights.
JACKED UP
Actually, tie anything down TIE ONE DOWN in the bed that can shift, bounce or go flying if you have to hit the brakes quickly.
Jack, wrench and spare tire.
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JASON STANG VEHICLE COURTESY MACLIN FORD, CALGARY DRIVEN BY LEAH HALLMAN POWER ENGINEERING, SAIT
KICK THE TIRES Better yet, use a gauge to check the air pressure. You don’t want it too high or too low.
VIEWPOINT Clean windows and mirrors, inside and out. You know a cracked windshield is a hazard, right?
Free and clear above and CLEARANCE below; no hanging, dangling or loose parts.
Drive without your DOCUMENTS, PLEASE licence, registration and insurance papers and you could be fined.
TIGHTEN YOUR BELT Again, you know why to wear a seatbelt. And it’s not just because it’s the law. So make sure it’s in working order and that everyone else along for the ride is wearing one too.
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Feature
RULES:
Regulations or directions for doing a particular activity, such as a game or a job. EXAMP LE:
One of the rules of hockey is that a player can’t ice the puck. EXAMP LE:
Canada’s oil and gas industry is adopting life-saving rules to better protect workers.
WRITTEN BY TERRY BULLICK
GAME-CHANGING AND LIFE-SAVING RULES Rules exist for good reason. Without the icing rule, hockey would be a game of skaters chasing the puck from end to end. Boring. Break one of the energy industry’s seven life-saving rules, and, well, you might not see another hockey game again. Risky. The National Hockey League introduced the icing rule in 1939 and immediately turned a defensive game into an offensive one. Hockey became much more proactive. Energy’s life-saving rules are also proactive. Their purpose is to reduce fatalities, decrease injuries, eliminate confusion and deliver consistent safety information. “We’re trying to make safety much easier to understand and less confusing for workers,” says Tim Gondek, executive director of the Oil Sands Safety Association (OSSA). “Ultimately, we would like to see standard rules across the industry and from company to company and region to region.” This means the life-saving rules of oil and gas will be instantly recognized from a drilling deck off the coast of St. John’s, N.L., to an oilsands site in Wood Buffalo,
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Alta., to a gas plant in Fort St. John, B.C. Several major companies have already adopted the rules, including Shell Canada, Suncor, Syncrude, Cenovus and Husky. More companies of all sizes are “joining the league.” H-E-double-hockey-sticks—hockey players and fans can only dream of such clarity: the NHL has one rule for icing and the International Hockey Federation has another. The NHL introduced the hybrid icing rule in 2013/14 (a mix of traditional, meaning icing is called when a player touches the puck after it’s been iced, and automatic). The IHL uses the automatic rule (icing is called after the puck crosses the second red line). For the record, all but the most hard-core hockey fans find the NHL’s icing rule hard to understand. You can learn more about it and other hockey rules at icehockey.isport.com. Meanwhile, the oil and gas’s basic life-saving rules are straightforward, easy to follow and to the point. You can learn more about them and other supplemental rules at ossa-wb.ca.
2. FALL PROTECTION
1. AUTHORIZATION
Obtain authorization before entering a confined space
A confined space, such as a vessel, tank or pipe, can contain explosive gas, poisonous air or other dangers such as a lack of oxygen, things that can fall on you or you can fall from. Authorized access keeps you safe.
Protect yourself against a fall when working at height
Use fall protection equipment when working outside a protective environment where you can fall over 1.8 metres (6 feet) to keep you safe. A protective environment includes approved scaffolds, stairs with handrails, and man lifts.
3. WORK PERMIT
Work with a valid work permit when required
A work permit describes what you must do to stay safe.
4. ISOLATION
Verify isolation before work begins and use the specified lifeprotecting equipment Isolation separates you from danger, such as electricity, pressure, toxic materials, poisonous gas, chemicals, hot liquids or radiation to keep you safe.
5. SAFETY CRITICAL EQUIPMENT
Obtain authorization before overriding or disabling safety-critical equipment
Safety-critical equipment must work correctly to keep you safe. Examples of safety-critical equipment include: Isolation devices/emergency shut down valves Lock out/tag out devices trip systems Relief valves
Specified life-protecting equipment by the work permit, such as breathing apparatus, electrical arc flash protection or chemical resistant suits, protect you from danger
Fire and gas alarm systems Certain level controls Alarms Crane computers In-vehicle monitoring systems.
6. ALCOHOL OR DRUGS
No alcohol or drugs while working or driving
7. HEAVY EQUIPMENT
Using alcohol or illegal drugs, or misusing legal drugs or other substances will reduce your ability to do your job safely.
Working "in the line of fire� of moving equipment (e.g. haul trucks, shovels, etc.) requires specialized authorizations and procedures (only in mine operations).
Do not put yourself in an unsafe position in relation to mine mobile heavy equipment
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Safe company
WRITTEN BY ANNE GEORG PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY ENSIGN ENERGY SERVICES INC.
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RISING TO MEET HIGHER EXPECTATIONS ENSIGN WORKS TO IMPROVE AN ALREADY EXEMPLARY SAFETY RECORD
Since its earliest days, two revolutions have constantly redefined production in the energy industry. One is technology. The other is safety. Leading companies are always bringing the latest technology and safety standards to their sites. “It’s just not good enough to simply have a safe drilling operation these days. You have to have perfect execution,” Robert Raimondo, Ensign’s vice president of Global Health, Safety and Environment, says of the industry’s mission to have zero injuries. “Our clients have increasingly higher expectations of us to operate safely and productively. We’re rising to meet those expectations.”
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Safe company
COACHING AND COMPLIANCE
“We’ve come a long way with safety,” says Ensign drilling superintendent Corwin Walz. The manager of five active rigs, Walz has worked with Ensign for 23 years. “We now have certified equipment that’s specific to a function. It used to be that guys used whatever was there.” For example, protective fall equipment was recently added to rig workers’ safety toolkit. “Years ago, there was very little talk about it, now it’s covered.” Ensign recently adopted a permitting system: a checklist of tasks that must be completed before beginning work in riskier settings, such as confined spaces or areas with high temperatures. Safety coaches now work with rig hands to help them meet all safety requirements in their jobs. “We’re always rolling out something new," Walz says. One of the latest programs is to prevent injury from falling objects. Employees are now required to secure potentially hazardous overhead equipment. Workers photograph equipment and conduct regular inspections to ensure compliance. “Communication is key,” says Ensign rig manager Tyler Smith.
T H E TOT E M P O L E
At every crew change, workers analyze job safety. Workers coming off shift tell those starting their shift about the potential hazards they’ve noted. They also detail the work they’ve done, so the new crew can plan their day, which increases rig efficiency and safety.
T H R E E - P R O N G E D S T R AT E G Y
To meet client expectations, and to keep and help improve its already exemplary safety record, Ensign adopted a threepronged strategy of consistency, commitment and innovation. It’s working. The company’s
safety. That’s because the
total recordable injury rate fell
automation takes people out
almost 50 per cent between
of the riskiest tasks on the
2014 and 2015 (from 1.97 to
rig,” Raimondo explains.
1.07). That's one reason Ensign received the Award for Drilling Excellence at the 2015 Oil & Gas Awards.
Ensign’s consistent safety strategy is critical to its global operations in North America, Latin America, the Middle East
system. The goal is to ensure all workers are and capable of meeting those expectations so the approach to safety is the same around the world— whether it’s in Grande Prairie, Alta., or Toowoomba, Australia. As well, Ensign's employees, including management, are expected to have an equal commitment to safety.
Another is Ensign’s
and Australia. The company
“Ensign needs to provide the
proprietary automated drilling rigs (ADR®), which have
has employed up to 4,000
leadership, training and safe
workers.
workplace so that employees
helped increase rig efficiency and boost worker safety.
Since 2014, Ensign has been developing global standards
“It can drill deeper holes faster
and procedures as part
and under higher pressure,
of its health, safety and
without compromising worker
environment management
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can do their jobs—safely— and to the fullest. We see more of our workers coming to work with a safety attitude,” Raimondo says.
“We do a handover with the new crew and anyone on location,” says Smith, who supervises 21 workers in three crews in northern Alberta. “That way everyone from rig manager down on the totem pole knows about the hazards and we catch them before they become an incident.” He adds that every worker carries an observation card to report behaviours or hazards that are a risk. “Most important is to keep the rig operating,” Smith says. “Management wants us to work efficiently. But we have Ensign’s and our clients’ full support to stop our work if we think safety is at risk. There’s no reason not to stop and re-evaluate and fix something properly.” Smith admits that in his five years as rig manager, paperwork has become heftier as he complies with stricter safety procedures. He understands why. “Every one of those procedures was written in the blood of an injured worker,” he says. Those injuries drive the revolution in the energy industry to always improve safety.
Field notes
BUSTING STRESS
The good news is you’re working. The bad news is: Your wages have fallen in the past 18 months. You’re working more and harder than ever before. You’re always tired but don’t sleep well. Your drinking, eating, smoking or gambling is getting out of control. You’re worried all the time. You’re spending more time getting to and from work. You’re away from home or family more than you like.
If you answered yes to one or more of the above, you could be stressed. WRITTEN BY TERRY BULLICK
Stress varies, but when it’s severe and unrelenting, it can turn your work and your world upside down and take a toll on mind and body. Especially if you don’t know how to deal with it. “Stress can be an elephant in the room,” says Debbie Gray, a mental health manager with Alberta Health Services. “Mental health is not the kind of stuff people talk about because they don’t always know how to start the conversation or reach out for help.”
So, lots of us “suck it up.” But ignoring stress can be toxic, leading to illness—and injury. When you’re constantly under stress, you’re neither present in the moment nor focused on your work. “Teamwork is built on the skills of the team and when someone is ‘gone,’ you might start worrying about who’s got your back," Gray says. When giving people advice on handling stress, she often starts with these four points
H A N D L I N G ST R E S S Talk about your concerns or worries with your team:
the more you do, the more than people know how
changes in your workplace affect you directly, as well
as safety on the site. Ask your supervisor or manager to join the conversation. Find stress busters that work for you. Get professional help if you need it. Your employee
assistance program is a good place to start.
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Field notes
SUCK IT UP OR GET IT OUT?
Keeping strong emotions bottled up is a surefire way to be consumed by them. Finding a way to get them out is infinitely better. If it’s not in your nature to share your feelings and fears, try at least to spend time regularly with family and friends. Your social networks can be safety nets. You can also deflate stress by doing things you enjoy: woodworking, playing guitar, barbecuing a steak, tinkering in the garage. Writing down your feelings can also be a great way to release them. And laugh—as often as you can.
If the thought of trying yoga and meditation makes you snort coffee out your nose, then try walking, camping, running or any another activity that’s calming, enjoyable and takes your mind off your troubles
“Laughing is good because it stimulates the heart and lungs and releases feel-good endorphins,” Debbie Gray of AHS says.
“Start a tailgate talk with a joke to take the tension away and end it with a joke so you finish the meeting on a positive note.” STA RT A C O N V E R SAT I O N
Advice from Heads Up Guys (headsupguys.ca), a B.C. website on depression and men. Where and when you start a conversation is not as important as starting it in the first place. Keep in mind that it doesn’t have to be an intense conversation that you dread starting. Instead, it’s helpful to keep things casual—go for a walk, grab a coffee or chat with someone while working. The conversation doesn’t have to be perfect. It can be as direct and open or as indirect as you want. For example, saying something like, “I’m going through a tough time, and dealing with depression” or “I’ve been getting way too stressed lately and could use a hand” are both good ways to get things going.
There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to this—just start with what is comfortable for you.
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BUSTING FINANCIAL STRESS If your spending and debt feel as if they’re spinning out of control, one of the fastest ways to take charge is with professional advice. Banks, credit unions and reputable credit counselling agencies can give you solid advice on: Making a budget and sticking to it Understanding the different kinds of debt and using them wisely Reducing your debt and improving your credit rating. Creditors will often work with you to make paying down debt easier
DIFFERENT KINDS O F ST R E S S
BRIEF
Brief increases in heart rate, mild increase in stress hormone levels.
SERIOUS
Serious, temporary stress responses, buffered by supportive relationships.
TOXIC
Prolonged activation of stress responses without protective relationships.
B U ST I N G FA M I LY S E PA R AT I O N ST R E S S
Night shifts, 12-hour shifts, rotating shifts, long commutes. Working in oil and gas can play havoc with family life and relationships. You miss the kids and the kids miss you. Your wife or husband is about to implode. Families can buffer strain and stress by building bridges, says Elsa Campos, the managing director of Family Outreach at Carya, a counselling and community engagement organization in Calgary. Bridges are about reaching out and closing gaps. You can do this with a letter, email, text, photo or phone call, Campos says. “Connect with your kids. It says you’re there for them, reassures them and connects you to one another. Regular, consistent contact is very important to kids.” She emphasizes regular. Not sure what to say? Campos says you can tell a story, read a book or ask about their day. You can even sing a song or tell a joke. Do the same with your spouse and you’ll soon all feel better. B U ST I N G OV E RT I M E ST R E S S
If you’re working longer and more shifts, you might not even know you’re stressed. Take stock: if you’re grumpy, forgetful or in need of a break, those are just a few signs of tension. Any number of websites will give you tips on how to cope with stress. But none of them works every time for everyone, says Elsa Campos of Carya. It’s important to find what works for you. Begin with eating healthy, getting the sleep you need, and stopping a couple of times a day to take a few deep breaths. If the thought of trying yoga and meditation makes you snort coffee out your nose, then try walking, camping, running or any another activity that’s calming, enjoyable and takes your mind off your troubles.
BUSTING SURVIVOR GUILT You may have dodged being laid off, but you’ve been hit square in the gut by survivor guilt: you feel bad for being spared the trauma of losing your job. You’re not the only one. People are reporting this throughout the industry. Debbie Gray of AHS says the first step to dealing with these feelings is to treat them as legitimate. It’s natural to be mad, sad, confused, anxious and so on. The next step is to let them out. You can also stay connected with past co-workers, especially if they are your friends. But talk about things other than work. Go hunting or fishing. Avoid turning your time together into slagging, venting or drinking sessions.
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Own it
IF YOU WORK IN CANADA’S OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY, YOU ARE EXPECTED TO KNOW THE BROADER DETAILS OF YOUR COMPANY’S ALCOHOL AND DRUG POLICY.
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
WHY? To know your responsibility: by law, you must protect your own safety and your co-workers’ safety To know how alcohol and drugs affect your ability to work safely To know the signs of alcohol and drug use To know when to report alcohol and drug use, including medications To know how the policy protects your rights To know where to find help if you or a co-worker need it.
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FOR MORE INFORMATION: Talk to your manager or supervisor Contact your employee assistance program or human resources department
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HOME SAFE
A COMBINE INJURY SPARKS AN AWAKENING IT WAS A BRUSH WITH DEATH WADE ASHWORTH NEVER FORGETS. “We’d been working 17-hour days. It was just ridiculous,” recalls Ashworth. He was helping his father harvest grain in the fall of 2005. Then a combine broke down. Weary, and thinking about everything that still needed to be done, Ashworth pushed on a jammed piece of the machinery and it suddenly gave way. He plunged forward onto the sickle guard, ripping open his upper arm to the bone. “If my arm hadn’t been positioned in front of my chest, my heart …” Ashworth says, his voice cracking, “I would have died." Safety became deeply personal for Ashworth that day when he realized what his well-being meant to his family. “The worst part was the look on my wife’s face,” he recalls. “I just about widowed her, with two kids. That’s what sticks in my mind.” He still chokes up talking about what happened and how it changed his attitude toward safety— he calls it an awakening—and his career path. He worked in a variety of oilpatch jobs and began to gravitate to safety. Today, he’s a health and safety advisor for Cenovus Energy in Weyburn, Sask. Whether he’s in a corporate teleconference, or a tailgate talk at a drilling rig, Ashworth always has a simple message: you must plan to be safe. He believes anyone can become “self-sufficient” in safety. That means getting the proper training and equipment, and taking responsibility for staying safe. “I really feel that safety needs to be personal. You have to make it personal.”
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WRITTEN BY DES KILFOIL PHOTOGRAPHED BY JON GILLIES
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