Frontline - Safety In Action: Winter 2014 by Energy Safety Canada

YES, A BEAR S**TS IN THE WOODS

A brief field guide to big game

INTELLIGENT EQUIPMENT Bush smarts

ON AND OFF THE JOB

Safety is something we do

2014

ISSUE

O1 WINTER

SAFETY I N ACTION

10 TIPS FOR

BETTER DRIVING

Behind the wheel

SAFETY I N ACTION

P R E M I E R I S S U E WINTER 2014

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PUBLISHED BY

President & CEO Cameron MacGillivray Manager, Communications Amy Krueger Editor & Project Manager Terry Bullick, Bullick Communications Contributing Editor Carol Howes, Global Public Affairs Design & Layout Katherine Stewart & Kylie Henry, Studio Forum Inc. Distribution & Editorial Assistance Michelle Crossland, Global Public Affairs

Contributors Jennifer Allford, Colleen Biondi, Lavonne Boutcher, Mike Fisher, Aaron Mackenzie Fraser, Lyle Fullerton, Laughing Dog Photography, Kristi Osmond, Scott Rollans, STARS Air Ambulance, Frankie Thornhill

ON AND OFF THE JOB

INSIDER TRAINING

Safety is something we do

To heli and back

Blowing in the wind

INTELLIGENT GEAR

Bush smarts

WORK HAND IN GLOVE

A brief field guide to big game

ON THE COVER

Laughing Dog Photography in Nisku, Alta.

10 TIPS FOR

BETTER DRIVING

Fatigue is the new ‘F’ word

Statements, opinions and viewpoints expressed by the writers of this publication do not necessarily represent the views of Enform.

10 tips for better driving photographed by

Good glovin’ really can make it or break it

Frontline is published four times a year.

For advertising rates or for consent to reprint or redistribute content in the publication, contact Enform at: frontline@enform.ca.

From wearing to owning safety

Fight the flu If you have to pull over

YES, A BEAR S**TS IN THE WOODS

SAFE COMPANY

LIFELINES

Help when you're hangry Give a driver a hand

SHIFT YOUR WORK

Printed by CentralWeb, Calgary, Alta.

NATURAL CAN BE HAZARDOUS

Beating the big ice challenge

Behind the wheel

ENFORM Q & A

Lodgepole: two meanings, four answers

HOME SAFE

A snubber’s perspective changes after a fall

To learn more about your safety and what Enform is doing to help you protect yourself, follow us on

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

On and off the job

SAFETY WORKS BEST WHEN IT BECOMES INSTINCTIVE

Safety is something we do I don’t know of anyone who begins the day thinking “I could crash my truck at work this morning,” or, “I may fall off the ladder this afternoon shovelling snow from my roof.” We start the day taking it for granted that we’ll be as safe at the end of it as we are at the beginning. While we might not dwell on our safety, we all value living safely. Our new magazine is about getting you to think more about safety— yours and the safety of those you work and live with—and how we all can avoid injury, illness and incident. For the past 52 years, Enform has worked with and for the upstream oil and gas industry to improve workplace safety. We’re perhaps best known for the training programs we run, with some 100 courses attended each year by 250,000 workers across Canada and from around the world. But we do much more—we provide resources and share best practices on safety. Safety is not something we have—it’s something we do. It’s how we live, both on and off the job. Safety works best when it becomes an instinctive way to do something, no matter how easy or how tough. If you’re like me, though, you sometimes hurry, make mistakes and have to remind yourself to pay attention. The pages ahead have a number of important everyday reminders about safety, from tips on being a better driver to advice on watching out for wildlife.

Cameron MacGillivray ENFORM President & CEO

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HELP WHEN YOU’RE HANGRY

LIFELINES

FIGHT THE FLU

HELP WHEN YOU’RE

We’ve all been there: your stomach growls, you begin to feel distracted, and you suddenly find everything highly irritating.

HANGRY

Hungry and angry— hangry—is more than just unpleasant for you and anyone near you. It can also be distracting and lead to mistakes being made on the job. While you may be tempted to scarf down a chocolate bar or bag of chips when you’re hangry, Calgary dietitian Vincci Tsui says gobbling pure carbohydrates shoots your blood sugar up, only to see it come right back down again, taking your mood along for the ride.

Tsui recommends including protein in your snack to slow down your digestion and help you to feel fuller longer. Tsui suggests these four quick, simple, portable snacks to help keep hunger and irritability away.

1 Protein bars:

Look for the ones that aren’t jam-packed with saturated fats and sugar. Hint: check the nutrition label— 10 grams of sugar in a 50-gram bar is too much. 2 Hard-boiled eggs:

Boiled eggs are a fast and filling snack on the go. 3 Nuts:

A handful of almonds, walnuts or pecans in trail mix are a great source of protein. Nuts pack a punch in the calorie department, so try not to eat more than about a quarter cup a day. 4 Apples and cheese:

Knock off a serving of fruit along with your protein.

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

GIVE A DRIVER A HAND

LIFELINES

FIGHT THE FLU

LIFELINES WRITTEN BY JENNIFER ALLFORD

Help direct vehicles to where you need them to go and stay safe in the process

Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for this primer on hand signals

PROCEED SLOWLY

BACKWARD

Always face palms in direction of desired travel.

Move arms repeatedly toward head and chest, and then extend.

CLEAR TO LEAVE AREA

TURNS

Point at the driver, and gain eye contact.

Point one arm to indicate the direction to turn.

STOP

Turn and extend arms in desired direction.

FIGHT THE FLU The flu, or influenza, isn’t to be taken lightly. It’s a serious illness that can put you, or the people near you, in the hospital and can even cause death. A flu shot is like community armour, protecting you and those around you.

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Cross both arms above head.

The respiratory viral infection usually starts spreading across Canada in the late fall and continues over the winter months. It has any number of symptoms: headaches, chills, cough, fever, aches and fatigue, a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes and throat irritation. The flu also causes upset stomach, loss of

STOPPING POINT

Face palms forward, hands above head. Bring elbows forward and hands together.

Bend monitoring arm repeatedly toward head to indicate continued turning.

EMERGENCY STOP

Start with hands clasped over head. Extend downward repeatedly until vehicle stops.

For a printable poster of these signals, look for hand signals at Enform.ca.

FORWARD

DISTANCE TO

appetite and diarrhea. Flu shots are widely available in Canada and, in many cases, are free. If your province doesn’t cover your flu shot, your employer might. Check it out and protect yourself, your family and your co-workers from the flu this year.

IF YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER

LIFELINES

BLOWING IN THE WIND

IF YOU HAVE TO PULL OVER Pulling your vehicle off to the side of the road can be a lot more dangerous than driving because of the traffic that’s whizzing by. If you have to pull over, make sure other vehicles can see you by using advanced warning devices.

The CSC offers the following suggestions for placing warning devices: When the speed limit is more than 60 km/h, put warning devices 30 metres in front of and 30 metres behind your vehicle to ensure other drivers see them.

If you’re pulled over at a corner or visibility is otherwise limited because of poor weather or low light, place more warning devices in front of and behind your vehicle. You want drivers from at least 150 metres away in either direction to see the devices.

Beaufort Scale Description

Typical Impact on Operations*

Less than 20 km/h

Gentle breeze: leaves and small twigs move, lightweight flags extend.

Normal work.

20 km/h or more

Moderate breeze: small branches, dust, leaves and paper move.

Work ceases at least 1½ tree lengths from trees.

40 km/h or more

Large tree branches move, telephone wires begin to “whistle.”

All hand felling of timber ceases and dangerous tree assessment ceases.

The Canada Safety Council (CSC) recommends commercial drivers and first responders use LED lights, flares and advanced warning reflective triangles. In Alberta, however, flags and flares are considered obsolete and the only recognized warning devices are advanced reflective triangles.

Blowing in the wind A breeze rustling through tree leaves is one thing, but when the wind picks up and other parts of the tree start moving , branches can become hazards. Enform’s Dangerous Tree Control Guide is a handy reference to keep you safe while working in the wind.

ASSESSING WIND SPEED AND TYPICAL IMPACT Wind Speed (km/h) * Note that other factors such as ground disturbance must be considered when determining the impact of a particular wind speed on general operations or, specifically, on felling operations on a given site.

CAUTION

ALARM

ALERT

< 40 KM/H

40-65 KM/H

65+ KM/H

Workers need to review the stability of any potentially dangerous trees in the area. Should the stability of dangerous trees appear suspect, remove the tree or workers.

Activities may significantly impact the stability of dangerous trees in the work area. Workers must reassess the stability of any dangerous trees adjacent to work areas.

Use extreme caution. Activities must be stopped until conditions moderate.

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

Intelligent Gear

WRITTEN BY SCOTT ROLLANS

When working and playing outdoors, it can be the little things that mess up a day (or night). Things like taking a left turn instead of a right, or getting a flat tire or wet feet. Having the smarts to carry the right gear with you can make all the difference in the world while things are getting sorted out as you find your way back to camp or home.

STORM SAFETY WHISTLE

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A loud whistle can save your skin in the bush. A pattern of three blasts tells anyone within earshot that you need help. (Use it to wake your bunkmates, though, and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll really need help.)

TOW STRAP

Hopelessly stuck in the deep bush, just a few feet from solid ground? Broken down in an area where no tow truck would ever reach you? Pack a heavy duty 30foot (10-metre) tow strap and a companion vehicle (or passing Samaritan) to save the day.

T-MAX HEAT SOCKS

Cold feet = utter misery. If you head into the wilderness in skimpy socks, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your own darn fault. Take charge: slap on a pair of heat-retaining socks, plus some sturdy waterproof footwear.

In addition to a sports bottle for the ride, fill a big jug and toss it in the back—just in case. If you’re headed far off-road, consider a good filtration kit as well.

WATER

They’re inexpensive, lightweight, and flimsy— can these things really save your life? In a word, yes. Waterproof and windproof, they reflect 90 per cent of your body heat, keeping you warm and dry. Maybe the best five bucks you’ll ever spend.

EMERGENCY BLANKET

With a spot-to-flood adjustable beam, super-bright LED, and three modes (high, low and strobe), this is one powerful and versatile pocket flashlight. Runs for hours on inexpensive AAA alkalines (pack some spares).

MAG XL50 FLASHLIGHT

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

WHEN YOU’RE ON THE JOB, GOOD GLOVIN’ REALLY CAN MAKE IT OR BREAK IT.

WRITTEN BY SCOTT ROLLANS

The right gloves will protect your hands from everything from sparks and shocks, muck and grease to hot and cold, corrosive chemicals and crushing impact. Any of these six pairs can help ward off what comes your way.

100% CarbonX® 10 oz. double jersey outer shell.

CarbonX fabrics will not ignite, burn, char, shrink or significantly decompose.

Extra-long 6” gauntlet cuff for over-suit protection.

Textured leather palm, leather fingertips and back-of-hand, padded knuckle protection. A Nomex III® lining produces additional thermal protection.

CARBONX MULTI-TASK GLOVES This top-of-the-line fire resistant glove lets you work easily and comfortably on a normal day, and even on a more difficult day. CarbonX® fabric delivers unsurpassed protection against direct flame and extreme heat. (Also great for

ALBERTA WELDER, DELUXE DEER AND ELKSKIN WELDING GLOVES

BLACK RUBBER INSULATING ELECTRICAL GLOVES

UTILITYARMOR WATERPROOF SAFETY GLOVES

4PINC PINK SKELETON GLOVES

WATSON STEALTH DOG FIGHT GLOVES

Spending your days in a welding helmet doesn’t mean you can’t do a little pampering of other parts. With supple deerskin backs and elkskin palms, wing thumbs for reduced hand fatigue, cowhide cuffs and fleece lining, these gloves keep you comfy and protected with style.

If your job involves electrical work, your safety could depend on your gloves. These Class 3 natural rubber gloves will withstand 30,000 volts AC (inspect and test them regularly). Chlorinated to slip on easily, these are anatomically shaped to fit like, well, a glove.

Combining a Kevlar outer layer, rubber impact guards on the knuckle, finger and thumb, and a waterproof inner liner, these rugged gloves (from the delightfully named Schmitz Mittz) protect against a wide range of hazards, from impact to heat to chemicals.

With the 4Pinc Job Observation Program, supervisors don pink hard hats and gloves. Any worker spotted putting his or her hands at risk gets the hat and gloves and continues the observation process. Glove sales have also raised thousands for breast cancer research!

In addition to the totally badass name, these gloves come with EN388 cut level 5 rating, the highest cut resistance available, thanks to their seamless aramid fibre shell. The high-visibility yellow may not win any fashion points, but it will keep your fingers seen—and safe.

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4PINC GLOVE PHOTO CREDIT KRISTI OSMOND

taking cookies out of the oven.)

Shift Your Work

Fatigue is the new

The oil and gas industry is wide awake to the issue of workers being dog-tired

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

Shift Your Work

A number of studies show that being awake for 17 hours is actually the same as having a blood alcohol level of about .05—enough to stop drivers in their tracks. If you usually sleep eight hours a day, this is the same as staying up an hour later. Being awake for 21 hours straight is the same as .08, and workers who go 24 hours without sleep perform about as well as someone with a blood alcohol level of 0.1.

Sleeping is not something you think too much about on the job. But it can affect the job you do

In other words, without enough solid sleep you're wasted—and you could be an accident waiting to happen.

Around “the patch,” long days and nights are pretty well a given. Twelve-hour shifts seven days a week are common. The travel time between shifts can eat up more hours, and if you’re a fly-in, fly-out worker, commuting can really cut into your snooze time.

All kinds of industries are finding a link between fatigue and work-related injuries: the risk of errors, accidents and injuries —especially in high-risk, safety-critical environments—jumps when workers are tired and can’t function at their peak level. For Canadian offshore oil and gas operations, workers cannot work more than 12.5 hours at a time or have fewer than eight hours between shifts without being assessed and tracked. Worker fatigue is thought to be a culprit in major incidents such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill and the Chernobyl nuclear accident. It’s also considered one of the leading reasons behind worker deaths and injuries while driving on the job.

Fatigue is that draggy, raggy feeling you FAT I G U E U N PA C K E D

get when you’re not getting enough sleep. It slows down your reactions and ability to make decisions and reduces your productivity. Working long hours is just one

cause of fatigue. Others include stress, anxiety, poor sleep or sleep disorders, short turnaround between shifts and medical conditions. Drugs and alcohol are also fatigue generators. 12

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DEALING WITH BEING TIRED ON THE JOB COMES DOWN TO SOME SIMPLE BASICS:

ZZZZZZZZ

Other tips for a good night’s sleep:

Listen and watch. Fatigue robs you of the ability to know exactly how you’re doing. If someone says you’re off your game, take it seriously and take a break. Keep an eye out for others who are fatigued. 2

Talk about it. Like any hazard on the job, it can’t be dealt with unless it’s talked about with the people you work with, your safety supervisor and your boss. Industry knows fatigue is a problem and is working on ways to manage it.

Use your bed primarily for sleeping, not for reading or watching TV and other screens

Finally, get some sleep. Granted, it might take some effort given a crowded work camp or your six-year-old’s Saturday morning hockey practice.

Turn off your phone (and other technology)*

Get a nightlight for the bathroom so you aren’t jolted awake by a blinding overhead light if you’re up during the night

Avoid caffeine, tobacco and alcohol before bedtime

Without enough solid sleep, you’re wasted —and could be an accident waiting to happen To get enough sleep and to do your job safely and efficiently, sleep in a dark room that’s quiet and cool. Our circadian rhythms (the internal clock that tells our bodies when to sleep) are geared to light. If you’re exposed to bright light

20 minutes before going to bed, your sleep can be disrupted. If you need to watch TV or go online, turn down the brightness. And don’t do anything really interesting as it will stimulate you and keep your awake.

Go to bed and get up at the same time every day. * One exception is using a sleep app to track and analyze your sleeping patterns. Many apps can be programmed to wake you in your lightest sleep phase. For recommendations, visit bettersleep.org.

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

A BRIEF FIELD GUIDE TO BIG GAME

BLACK

TRACKS

SCAT

TRACKS

SCAT

These giant, lumbering ungulates may appear docile, but can inflict life-threatening injuries if they charge or collide with your vehicle.

The majestic elk, or wapiti (Shawnee for white rump), is a vocal, social hoofed animal with tracks much like a yearling cow’s.

Habitat

Along lakes, muskeg and streams, in boreal forests across Canada and wooded hillsides in the Rocky Mountains; prolific in Newfoundland.

Mainly in B.C.’s Kootenays and Peace-Omineca Region and Alberta’s Rocky Mountain foothills, Elk Island National Park and Cypress Hills, with smaller herds in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Grizzly: Western Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon and Northwest Territories. Brown: Forests and backcountry of every province and territory in the country.

When to watch for

Year-round at dawn and dusk, especially during fall rutting season and wintertime when moose can become erratic if infested with ticks.

Year round, especially at dawn and dusk. Beware of males in rutting season and females with young calves.

How to respond

Carry a walking stick or umbrella to make yourself look bigger if an elk gets too close for comfort. Maintain eye contact; always face the animal. If the elk charges, climb a tree or put a large object or rock between it and you. Carefully and slowly back away.

Give moose plenty of room to move away; when driving, slow down and prepare to stop. Tap brakes, flash high beams and sound horn to alert other drivers.

TRACKS

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How to respond

Big, curious, smart and naturally wary, a bear’s life revolves around eating—be it berries, an elk carcass or human garbage.

When to watch for

April to November, the foraging months. How to respond

Do not attract a bear’s attention. Retreat slowly the way you came from and watch for other bears. If the bear sees or smells you, stay calm, appear non-threatening and give it a chance to retreat. Bears may become defensive when protecting cubs, food or personal space. Carry pepper spray to defend yourself. If you regularly work in bear habitat, see the Alberta BearSmart Program Manual at esrd.alberta.ca.

Bear scat and other animal droppings are signs that you’re in big game’s backyard. Lyle Fullerton of Alberta Environmental and Sustainable Resources offers these tips on face-to-face encounters with sizable (read: dangerous) wildlife.

DEER

COUGAR

TRACKS

SCAT

North America’s largest wild cat, the Felis concolor (cat of one colour) is shy and fast —its average sprinting speed is 56 km/h.

Habitat Throughout British Columbia, in the eastern slopes of the Rockies in Alberta, with a small colony in Cypress Hills. When to watch for Year round and at any time of the day, with most activity at dusk, night and dawn. How to respond Face the cougar; show that you are not a prey animal. Wave your arms, use pepper spray and shout at the cougar. If attacked, fight back, using anything you can find as a weapon and aiming for the cougar’s eyes and face. If knocked down, get back up; don’t give up. Never play dead with a cougar.

TRACKS

WOLF

SCAT

White-tailed deer—so named for its white flagging tail—is North America’s most populous large animal, although it is outnumbered in Western Canada by its cousin the mule deer, which has bigger ears, a stockier body a white rump and a stiff-legged bouncing gait.

Habitat White-tail: Forests across Canada, except for northwestern B.C. Mules: Southwestern Manitoba, southern Saskatchewan, Alberta and most of B.C. When to watch for Year round, especially at dawn and dusk and during November, December and January.

TRACKS

SCAT

With their haunting howls, diverse coats and highly organized social structure, wolves have often been feared, maligned and exterminated, but are shy canines.

Habitat

Most of Canada, including the Arctic. Not common in southern Ontario and other heavily populated areas. When to watch for

Active year round. How to respond

Legend and fairy tales aside, healthy wolves are rarely seen; rarer still are human attacks. Deter them from attacking livestock with guard dogs, strobe lights and sirens.

How to respond

Aggression towards people is rare; the bigger threat is hitting deer while driving. If you spot a deer, slow down and prepare to stop; see driving story on page 24 for details.

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

Natural Can Be Hazardous

We asked four experts with in-thefield experience how to beat the big ice challengeÂ&#x2014; on and off the job

WRITTEN BY MIKE FISHER

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THE MECHANIC

The biggest challenge with ice—and what makes it different from other challenges—is that you often can’t see it Dave Hanik, a Drumheller, Alta.-based lead mechanic for the Clearwater Business Unit at Encana, deals with icy conditions during bone-chilling winters. We deal with various ice hazards in Alberta. Driving out to our compressors in the field, black ice road conditions can be common. A lot of the driving is in the dark of early morning or evening. The biggest challenge with ice—and what makes it different from other challenges —is that you often can’t see it, so you face the unexpected. You may be walking and all of a sudden you start sliding sideways. You might miss an access road in your vehicle and then find yourself sliding on black ice.

A pipeline might be frozen, but you don’t know exactly where. When we do get to the work site, we can have ‘freeze off’ inside and outside a pipeline that we can’t even see. The engine or equipment may be down and not running. Walking conditions can be hazardous. At the cleared area where the engines and compressors and wellheads sit, there is usually a clear gravel pad and there can be ice build-up. We have a lot to deal with and ice is a major part of it.

TIPS

AT WORK: Wear slip-on ice cleats over work boots for traction and use huge heaters to thaw ice around pipelines. AT HOME: Keep family and friends up to date on weather reports. It's a way of giving people a safety heads up.

When the ice builds up, we have an operational group that handles the site area. They work on it so we can stand without slipping all over.

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

Natural Can Be Hazardous

THE RESCUER

When working on ice, your time is compressed. If you don’t understand the environment you are working in, you will run out of time Walter Bucher, executive director and ice rescue instructor with Smithers, B.C.-based Raven Rescue, teaches an ice rescue technician course for oilfield and other workers. I’ve done a lot of rescues on ice in my career. One of the challenges for workers facing hazardous ice conditions is to have the knowledge and the skills to deal with it. Most people think ice is static and hard and it doesn’t change. It’s actually very dynamic, almost like plastic. Put pressure on it and it will change quickly. Temperature, air currents and other factors can all affect a

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worker’s safety techniques and tactics when they are on or around ice. We’ve worked with (companies) after an incident to assess what went wrong at a job site. We’ve seen people driving over ice on lakes or rivers, for instance, while conducting oil cleanup or collecting environmental samples. Sometimes workers take chances they probably shouldn’t. When working on ice, your time is compressed. If you don’t understand the environment you are working in, you will run out of time.

TIPS

AT WORK: Using personal protective equipment specific to ice is key. Normal carabiners, for instance, freeze up; wire gate carabiners are the way to go. As for rope, hollow braid is especially designed for personal protective equipment in and around ice.

Taking an ice rescue-training course will make you part of the solution if someone goes through ice. It’s important to know how to pull yourself out of icy water and use basic tools, such as an ice pick. In icy water, you’ve got about a minute to get your breathing under control. You’ve got five to 10 minutes to get out of the water altogether.

THE FIREFIGHTER

Ice is our number one challenge in the cold Canadian months. We have to conduct our work safely Shawn McKerry, deputy fire chief, Fire Services in Parkland County, Alta., helps manage five fire stations with 122 volunteer firefighters. When it comes to fire and ice, heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seen it all.

I know what itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like to work in hazardous ice conditions.

Once after working a fire in an industrial complex during winter, I was going out of the building and to avoid slipping on the ground outside the door, I used the metal handrail. Almost instantly my water-soaked fire gloves froze to the railing and I was caught in place. Nearby firefighters had to help peel me off the rail. Firefighters get very wet. In freezing conditions our protective equipment is quickly encased in ice. Our breathing systems can freeze and fail to function properly. We face slip hazards from water quickly turning the ground into an ice rink. The key to reduce the hazard of water freezing is to keep the water moving. In the winter when hose lines are not being used, nozzles are always left open to allow water to flow. To reduce the chance of freezing firefighting equipment, water is cycled from the tank to the pump. Ice is our number one challenge in the cold Canadian months. We have to conduct our work safely.

TIPS

AT WORK: Spread sand or salt on icy surfaces to assist with traction. Most new firefighting vehicles are purchased with automatic chains for the tires. AT HOME: In the winter make sure fire hydrants are accessible and visible. Clean snow and ice from your sidewalks and stairways to give people easy access to your home. Ensure your address is clearly visible from a distance and not obscured by snow-covered trees.

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014 THE ZONE - WHERE ENERGY LIVES

Natural Can Be Hazardous

THE ICE SPECIALIST

If operations are conducted safely and according to plans, then Arctic operations are no more hazardous than operations elsewhere. However, the consequences or risks become significantly larger Wim H. Jolles, a naval architect and ice specialist with Canatec Associates International Inc., has worked in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, Sakhalin and Kazakhstan in support of drilling and construction projects, both off and onshore, since 1980. He helps with coaching and training in the safe design and operation of Arctic systems. The weather and, in particular, the shift of ice caused by winds and currents, is what makes ice different than other field challenges. There are logistical challenges and database challenges. There is the availability of proper support vessels and their ice class, as well as crews with proper

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training and experience. There is darkness and limiting visibility. Last, but not least, is the Arctic-related stress, or human factors. An important (safety) aspect when working with ice is to provide operators with accurate ice charts in near real-time and other information that they need, including ice thickness, ridges, rubble, old ice and iceberg population and their drift. If operations are conducted safely and according to plans, then Arctic operations are no more hazardous than operations elsewhere. However, the consequences or risks are significantly larger.

TIPS

AT WORK: Benefit from your knowledge. On Sakhalin in the frigid North Pacific Ocean, Russian operators use what they learn each year to improve their procedures and plans. As former and current Canadian operators, such as Gulf, Esso, Shell and Dome, gained skills and knowledge about working in icy conditions, they made sizeable investments in their operations to improve their operation.

Insider Training

WRITTEN BY LAVONNE BOUTCHER PHOTOGRAPHED BY AARON MACKENZIE FRASER

TO HELI AND BACK

COMPLETING OFFSHORE SURVIVAL TRAINING

JOEL CARROLL, CEO of Falck Safety Services, says trainees’ nervousness is planned: “We want you to feel that anxiety because we want to reach you. We want to make sure that this is buried in your brain and you’re not going to forget it.”

Before workers can ever leave land to work in Canada’s offshore energy production sector, they must complete intensive safety training, including an in-the-water simulated helicopter ditch. We look at how trainees conquer their emotions and gain confidence.

“You feel a lot of pressure on your body. You feel your suit tighten up. You feel the water going up your nose. You think, ‘I have to get out of here or else I’m not going to be able to breathe,’ ” says John Todd, describing his underwater escape from a helicopter training simulator in a large pool located in Dartmouth, N.S.

Todd, a wellbore equipment inspector from Houston, Texas, was preparing for contract work on a drill rig off the coast of Newfoundland. Like everyone who works in Canadian offshore oil and gas production, he has to complete survival training, which includes learning how to get out of a helicopter if it ditches or crashes into the frigid North Atlantic.

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

Insider Training

Falck’s training programs are intense and challenging, but helicopter escape training can also be frightening INTENSE TRAINING

With oil and gas fields located hundreds of kilometres offshore, helicopter transport is the fastest, most efficient way to move crews to and from the rigs. Every few weeks, offshore workers have a 90-minute or more helicopter commute, so they need to know what to do if something goes wrong. Falck Safety Services is one firm that provides survival and safety training for anyone who wants to work in Canada’s offshore industry. Each year, nearly 4,000 people come from all over the world to learn how to deal with offshore hazards. About 80 per cent of them take helicopter underwater escape training (HUET). All of Falck’s training programs are intense and challenging, but helicopter escape training can also be frightening. “Helicopter ditching training is like the bogeyman of the oil and gas world. Some (trainees) dread it coming,” says Sean Fitzpatrick, a veteran survival instructor at Falck. He says instructors know there’s a lot on the line and they work hard to help workers feel as comfortable as possible to successfully complete the required training.

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“We see a lot of anxiety, fear and panic among people who can’t swim, have claustrophobia or may have experienced a traumatic event earlier in their lives,” says Fitzpatrick. “Those kinds of things can make it difficult for them, but it’s also the most rewarding when you get them through.” A SAFER OFFSHORE COMMUTE

Offshore survival training is about teaching people what to do if the worst happens. Instructors are quick to point out that helicopter transport is safe and the chances of being involved in an incident are extremely low. “The drive to the heliport is much more dangerous than actually getting in the aircraft and flying offshore and coming back again,” says Fitzpatrick. Still, helicopter ditchings, crashes and deaths have happened. In March 2009, a Sikorsky S-92 helicopter crashed into the sea off the coast of Newfoundland, killing 17 of the 18 people on board. The crash sparked an inquiry and a number of safety improvements aimed at preventing future accidents. “Any time you’re flying by helicopter and landing on a helideck, it’s not a

normal thing. It’s pretty dramatic,” says Dave Comeau, who has been involved in helicopter survival training since the 1980s. Over the years he’s seen many improvements in safety procedures, training and equipment. Offshore workers must now complete a five-day basic survival training program that includes helicopter underwater escape. And, they must take a refresher course every three years. Comeau says one of the top safety equipment enhancements that he has seen is the requirement that everyone wearing a survival suit must have helicopter underwater emergency breathing apparatus (HUEBA). The HUEBA gives people an additional air supply, extending their time to jettison the windows and escape from a submerged helicopter. “If there’s one thing that causes people to panic, both in our training and in a real situation, it’s attempting to hold your breath while trying to find something and activate it underwater. That’s really challenging,” he says.

Helicopter training helps workers face the “bogeyman” of the offshore oil and gas world

The drive to the heliport is much more dangerous than flying offshore and coming back again

Trainer Melanie Arsenault in Falck Safety Servicesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; helicopter training simulator in Dartmouth, N.S.

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

Insider Training

The real satisfaction is when someone says ‘thank you, thank you, you saved my life’ MEMORABLE TRAINING

Safety training has also further improved with the use of high-impact simulation technology designed to make people feel as if they really are in a ditched helicopter. At the Falck training facility, instructors add a few theatrical touches to their pool to boost the intensity of the survival training sessions. “All you have to do is add to a little bit of wind and a few waves and lower the lights a bit and it changes the whole thing,” says survival instructor Melanie Arsenault. “People are way more alert and involved in it when you make it more realistic.” “I was a nervous wreck,” says trainee Simon Bates, who says the realistic training has made him feel better prepared for the real thing. “You wonder, ‘Can I hold my breath long enough? Can I open the window? Am I going to take in a lot of water? Am I going to get stuck?’ ” While the feelings people have in training may be real, the risk is not. “You’re never at risk in there,” says Joel Carroll, CEO of Falck Safety Services. “You might feel that you are. And we

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want you to feel that anxiety because we want to reach you. We want to make sure that this is buried in your brain and you’re not going to forget it.” Falck trainers use a Modular Egress Training Simulator™ (METS) or “dunker” that can simulate any type of aircraft with any type of emergency exit. “We can’t expect people to train in one generic type of simulator and be able to execute a life-saving, step-by-step procedure in a completely different aircraft that they’ve never seen before,” says Carroll. With only 10 to 20 seconds to react in a real emergency, trainees must learn to execute multiple steps quickly and in the right order. “When the helicopter hits the water and rolls upside down, especially in cold water, if you’ve never experienced that before, there are so many things you can do incorrectly or in the wrong sequence that can cost you your life,” explains instructor Fitzpatrick.

LEAVING WITH CONFIDENCE

“Panic is the killer,” says Newfoundland offshore worker Corwin Boland. “If you can go through your steps and take that extra second and just think— thinking is the hardest part. If you don’t think, you start to panic.” Boland says scuba training he had helped him in the helicopter escape sequences. He now feels better about working offshore knowing about the safety equipment he’ll be wearing and the new skills he’s learned to deal with any emergency. For Fitzpatrick, the most rewarding part of his work is helping trainees leave with confidence. “The real job satisfaction comes from the guy who sits down in the simulator and his hands are shaking so bad he can’t do up his seatbelt. When he’s done and he is shaking your hand, and has a big smile on his face, and he’s saying, ‘Thank you, thank you. You saved my life, you saved my career.' " In the end, making the training as realistic as possible helps offshore oil and gas workers like Todd, Bates and Boland gain the skills and the confidence they need so that if they are ever in a real helicopter emergency, they will know exactly what to do to survive.

Safe Company

FROM WEARING SAFETY TO OWNING IT

WRITTEN BY COLLEEN BIONDI PHOTOS COURTESY OF

TARPON ENERGY SERVICES

The 2013 gold winner of Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Safest Employers Award in the oil and gas category, Tarpon Energy Services Ltd. has made a cultural shift over the past decade to better protect its workers. Here's a look at how everyone in the company, from labourer to CEO, invests in safety

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

Safe Company

TA R P O N E N E R G Y S E R V I C E S

WHEN 32-YEAR-OLD BYRON THOMAS STARTED WORKING AT TARPON ENERGY SERVICES IN CALGARY ALMOST 10 YEARS AGO, HEALTH AND SAFETY WAS BASIC—WEAR YOUR PROTECTIVE GLASSES, STEEL-TOED BOOTS AND HARD HATS ON SITE AND TRY NOT TO GET HURT.

W H AT A DIFFERENCE A DECADE MAKES

Today, Thomas is the general foreman of the company’s modular construction division and describes a very different picture. “It is about going home safely at the end of the day,” he says. “I work

side by side with the guys. I learn about their families and they become my friends. I am not going to watch them do something dangerous.” As an example, it used to be that when an employee was working from a height, the emphasis was to “jump up there and get the job done.” Today, whether it’s a one-minute or one-hour task, people understand the potential for a fall is the same. In every case, ladders are now tied off to make sure they are stable. Thomas knows the risks associated with heights first-hand. He was once up on a snowy, unsecured pipe rack and slipped. Fortunately, he grabbed an I-beam and stopped just short of falling. This perfectly illustrates another thing Tarpon employees are paying more attention to: near misses. Such incidents are now reported and reviewed so they can be prevented. At Tarpon’s worksites, the day begins with a risk assessment discussion, called a toolbox. A foreman runs through the day’s activities and reminds employees of hazards for that day—if the temperature is headed to 30 degrees C, staff are reminded to drink water. If it is windy, they’re asked to watch for items that might blow off or doors that might blow wide open. Afterwards, at individual work areas, pre-job hazard assessments (PJHAs) are done. These very specifically examine the risks of each unique job, whether it is laying cable or cutting a piece of tray. Protective measures are discussed and implemented.

The last thing anyone wants is an incident, explains Thomas. “If someone sees blood, it is instant panic.”

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The new Personal Safety Involvement (PSI) program’s mantra is: “If you see it, you own it.” Gone are the days when you saw a hole in a skid and just walked by. Today, Tarpon employees now point it out, cover it and flag it so no one will trip, fall and break an ankle. “It is not just the executives or the safety officers who do this. It is every employee on-site. You are there all day and are more cognizant of risks. It is everyone’s investment.”

This switch-up in policy and practice has taken place through a concerted effort by Tarpon to reduce incidents in the

For example, skyrocketing insurance premiums or Workers’ Compensation Board claims have been known to put a company under (at last tally, Tarpon had fewer WCB claims than 95 per cent of similar businesses in Alberta). As well, employees want to work for companies where they feel safe and secure and clients appreciate the commitment.

Through an annual Safety Stand Down, Warnock gets to talk directly with all 2,100 of Tarpon’s employees and hear about their ideas for improving safety.

workplace (after a series of hand injuries in 2011). And it is

“We are very proud of our employees,” he says. “They have

working—in 2013, the company won the gold award in the oil

embraced the change and are leading the charge.”

and gas industry as Canada’s Safest Employer. Of course, it is not easy for everyone to buy in. Change is hard, as is adopting new ways of doing things. But employees are coming on board —both new employees at the hiring stage and older employees through a period of adjustment. The approach to health and safety at Tarpon is as important as the policies. “We are not a watchdog or the police,” explains Thomas. Rather, the emphasis is more friendly and inclusive—let’s talk about what is going on, do things safer and come back to work tomorrow. However, there are consequences for non-compliance. “If people are not tied off at a certain height, we are not happy. If a guy does this more than once or twice, he will be sent home for the day. We cannot have repeat offenders.” Desmond Cheah, 30, a journeyman electrician in the modular construction division, sees additional benefits to safety in the workplace. “You bring the awareness home to your family,” he explains. Take winter driving, for example. Cheah now walks around his vehicle at home before heading out for Saturday errands, checking tire pressure and making sure the windows are clear of snow for good vision. “Everyone appreciates the new culture.” That is music to the ears of Larry Warnock, director of health, safety and the environment for Tarpon. “It is a big priority for us,” he says. “You cannot afford to be in business if you run an unsafe company.”

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

BEHIND THE WHEEL

10 TIPS FOR

BETTER DRIVING WRITTEN BY TERRY BULLICK AND FRANKIE THORNHILL PHOTOGRAPHED BY LAUGHING DOG PHOTOGRAPHY

A surprising number of people think they drive better than they really do. Because even the most seasoned of drivers need a refresher once in a while, we offer 10 ways to hone your skills behind the wheel.

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1. BUCKLE UP

2. SLOW DOWN

Studies show fewer oilpatch workers and pickup drivers buckle up than the average Canadian.

“Slow down and don’t drive if you’re tired,” is the main advice Jimmy Bragg has for drivers.

Simple physics say if you’re riding in a vehicle without a seatbelt doing 100 km/h and it comes to a crashing halt, your body will keep moving forward at 100 km/h— through glass, into metal and whatever else is in your way—before coming to its own crashing halt. Do you really want to find out how much that hurts? The three seconds it takes to buckle up can save a lifetime of woulda, coulda, shoulda.

Bragg, technical coordinator at Datalog Technology, has seen all kinds of good and bad driving during his nine years in the oilpatch. “A lot of times young guys go out and party and they’re probably hungover and late for work, so they’re speeding. They’re rushing to get back to the rig and they’re driving way too fast for conditions and they’re sleepy.”

3. WHERE THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROAD

4. CHECK ‘EM TWICE

Without good tires, you’re going nowhere fast. These tips will keep you rolling:

Summer and winter.

1 // Know and check your tire pressure monthly.

2 // Inspect your tires once a month for bumps, tears or unusual markings.

3 // If your vehicle pulls or wanders or the wheels shimmy or shake, get professional help.

4 // Check your treads. Insert a quarter with the caribou's muzzle pointing down. If the muzzle isn't buried, it's time for a new tire.

5. DON’T TAIL IT

Speed, size and road conditions all dictate the room you need to leave between you and the vehicle in front of you. “Following distance is a big precursor to having a collision,” says Randy Mercer, who began driving tractor-trailers, buses and heavy equipment for the Canadian Forces in 1981. He’s now the director of safety and risk management for the Mullen Group, whose 26 trucking and service companies cater to the oilpatch. “If people maintain a greater follow distance and eye lead time (looking farther down the road), they can react to potential problems quicker.” The Canada Safety Council notes that when a car moving 100 km/h on a dry road has to stop suddenly, it will cover 184.2 metres (more than three NHL rinks) before coming to a stop. That distance increases with the size of your vehicle.

1.2

SECONDS Time it takes to perceive a hazard.

1.0

SECOND

Time it takes to react and brake.

8-10+ 3.0+ SECONDS

SECONDS

Ideal following distance in winter daylight conditions.

Ideal following distance in good daylight summer conditions.

Whatever you’re driving, from an 18-wheeler on highway gravel to a Ford F150 on a cutline—check the following as winter approaches and again when summer comes around: battery, ignition system, lights, exhaust system, heating and cooling system, windshield wipers and fluid, and oil levels.

KNOW THE DISTANCE

To figure out your following distance when moving at 100 km/h. Pick a fixed object on the road ahead (sign, tree or overpass). When the vehicle ahead of you passes the object, slowly count “one one thousand, two one thousand, three one thousand.” If you reach the object before completing the count to three one thousand, you’re following too closely. — SmartMotorist.com

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

BEHIND THE WHEEL

10 TIPS FOR BETTER DRIVING continued 6. STOP. SLEEP. GO AGAIN.

It seems like a no-brainer: if you’re tired, have a nap. But people in a hurry will open the windows, crank up the tunes or pinch themselves repeatedly, none of which work to combat fatigue. Studies show men 16 to 29 years old as the most likely group to crash due to fatigue. One in five traffic deaths is caused by drowsy driving. Canadian Safety Inspections Ltd. recommends you “stop at

a safe place and take a nap. Wait at least 10 minutes after waking up to see how alert you are. If you don’t feel any more alert, don’t drive. Find a place to sleep for an hour or for the night.”

7. ANTICIPATE WILDLIFE

Chance of animal attack: pretty slim Chance of animal collision: pretty high In rural Alberta in 2012, more than half of highway crashes involved an animal. The risk is highest between 5 p.m. and midnight, and goes up in the fall during the rutting season, when animals are intent on mating and nearly oblivious to traffic. Deer and moose can be downright unpredictable. Lyle Fullerton of Alberta Environmental and Sustainable Resources has this advice: 1 // Slow down at night, especially if

9 // Deer tend to fixate on headlights;

you’re not used to the roads.

2 // Pay attention to roadside wildlife warning signs and look well down the road and far off to each side. 3 // Watch for wildlife around woods and water. 4 // Slow down when rounding a curve or reaching the crest of a hill. 5 // When possible, use your high-beam lights at night to illuminate road edges. 6 // “Eye-shine,” or the reflection of light in some animal’s eyes, is often the first sign of animals at night. 7 // Seeing one animal could signal others are nearby. 8 // Slow down and be prepared to stop if you see an animal; even if an animal has already crossed the road, it can turn back in your path.

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flashing your lights may cause them to move.

10 // When you see wildlife on or near the roadway, reduce your speed, tap your brakes to warn other drivers (flash your high beams and sound your horn). 11 // If you can’t avoid a collision, maintain control and stay on the road; braking hard lowers the front of your vehicle, meaning the animal can come right through the windshield. Swerving can put you in the path of other vehicles or into the ditch. 12 // If you see (or are in) a collision with an animal, report it to the nearest RCMP or police detachment right away.

8. LOOK OUT

Vision is a big part of defensive driving. This includes scanning—not focusing on one object for too long. “Drivers need to look at the road, but also the ditches, and look to the horizon as far as you can, which will give you a greater lead time to react,” says the Mullen Group’s Randy Mercer. He recommends taking a refresher driving course every couple of years. “Good companies will run training programs, which benefit both the work atmosphere and the personal atmosphere. Training goes a long way to reducing collisions.”

9. FOCUS

A 2011 survey found more than one-third of Canadian drivers had texted or talked on their cellphones while driving in the past week. The practice is rapidly becoming as taboo as drinking and driving. Why? Driver distraction causes up to 80 per cent of all motor vehicle collisions.

Focused drivers put the cellphone away, and leave reading, writing, sketching, drawing, grooming (yes, some guys try to shave while driving and some gals put on makeup), twiddling with the music and eating for rest stops and destinations. Randy Mercer of Mullen Group likes to point out how much ground a moving vehicle covers. “It’s 27 metres (90 feet) a second at 100 kilometres an hour, so imagine how quickly the real estate goes by without you noticing” if you’re texting or programming your GPS.

10. DRIVE SOBER

Here’s the deal —and you’ve undoubtedly heard it before so this won’t be a Grade 12 lecture— drinking and driving do not mix. Improve your safe driving record: let a designated driver or cabbie do the driving if you’ve had a couple of drinks.

That’s it. Got it? Good.

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

ENFORM Q & A

Lodgepole has two meanings. One is a species of pine tree; the second—and the more memorable for Canada’s oil and gas industry—is a 1982 sour gas well blowout some 130 kilometres southwest of Edmonton, Alta. The blowout drifted across a wide swath of Western Canada with the rotten-egg odour of hydrogen sulfide.

For some key reasons, the first being the very real risk of H2S. It took 23 days to ignite the well and another 44 days to bring it under full control. In addition to the loss of life and injury, a number of people living around the well were evacuated from their homes. Plus, people across the Prairies were concerned about sour gas in the air. People as far away as Saskatoon and Winnipeg claimed they could smell the well’s sour gas emissions.

The public relations “storm” continued and the provincial government formed a review panel to look into the causes and responses to Lodgepole. Two years later, the panel said the blowout was caused by a chain of events, ranging from a short supply of drilling mud to deficient coring operations.

The second reason was that this incident was front-page news for almost every one of those days. Media called Lodgepole “Alberta’s geyser of terror” and “the worst blowout in Alberta’s history.” People across the country wanted to know how Lodgepole happened and why it couldn’t be brought under control faster. It was a turning point, because the public was demanding that the industry be accountable and operate much more responsibly. Today, the public expects this of all industries, but this was one of the first times public and media attention was so tightly and critically focused on Canada’s oil and gas industry.

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The biggest link in the chain, however, was human error. The panel said that Amoco, which had a blowout in the same area five years before, “did not apply the necessary degree of caution while carrying out operations in the critical zone.” The company disagreed with the panel’s findings, but the Canadian industry and regulators quickly worked hard to prevent another “Lodgepole.”

Two blowout specialists lost their lives trying to bring the well under control and another 16 people ended up in the hospital. Amoco Canada Petroleum worked for 67 days to bring the well under control.

harsh scrutiny from the public, government regulators and itself. Frontline's editor Terry Bullick asked Lorne Polzin, a long-time senior staff advisor in registered engineering technology with Enform, how the Lodgepole

Throughout that time and the years that followed, the industry faced

blowout changed drilling operations in Canada.

By law, workers directly involved in drilling and well control had to become more educated and trained. Well control supervisors had to become even more specialized and have a greater understanding of fluid dynamics and formation pressures. The processes, standards and equipment around well control were more formalized.

Well kicks and blowouts during drilling have reduced significantly and we haven’t seen an incident in Canada as serious or as lengthy as Lodgepole. Workers and the public are safer. We have far more rigour in our industry to ensure the public’s interests are met and that they better understand how we operate. Our industry’s safety record is constantly improving and we’re seeing people doing more than just wearing the gear. Safety is increasingly more an attitude, a culture. Not everyone understands our technology and operations, but we are working on that and we continue to get better at it.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, we were already seeing a lot of technological and safety advances coming into the industry from around the world, and Lodgepole coincided with those in many ways. In the mid-1980s, Enform (previously Petroleum Industry Training Services) did much of its well control training near Devon, Alta. In 1988, we opened a new training centre in Nisku, outside Edmonton, and it became and remains, the only centre of its kind. Our well control facilities give workers hands-on training experience in a live operating environment. Everywhere else in the world this kind of training is simulated. At Nisku, what course participants experience in a training setting is exactly what they’ll experience in the field. Training is vital to safer, more efficient operations. We want to promote muscle memory and make sure the work and the responses to normal and abnormal processes are intuitive as well as intellectual. That’s how you build skills and confidence in workers and it shows the public you’re meeting their expectations.

FRONTLINE WINTER 2014

HOME SAFE

Trevor Sopracolle ‘totally adopted safety’

In 2002, Trevor Sopracolle was working in a snubbing basket removing drilling pipe from a well near Rocky Mountain House, Alta. Suddenly he slipped and fell 25 feet (eight metres) to the drilling platform below. He landed on a steel Ratigan arm on a manual set of blowout preventers, puncturing his right shoulder and lung and tearing off part of his nose.

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A STARS air ambulance flew him from the foothills townsite to the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton.

procedures for snubbing units and drilling rigs. Guardrails and fall arrest equipment are now standard.

“It was pretty crappy,” recalls Sopracolle, “There was no fall arrest in the snubbing basket—back then there wasn’t that kind of safety equipment in our industry.”

Today, Sopracolle is a journeyman snubber with assessor training through Enform. He also co-owns Goliath Snubbing with Garrett Radchenko and operates three snubbing rigs in Western Canada. Goliath’s entire 12-man workforce is Enform-trained and -certified.

After a week in the hospital, he was told he faced eight months of rehab. Sopracolle was back on the job six months later. “I was eager to get back to work and I wanted to stay in the industry.” And the Canadian oil and gas industry was eager to make changes to its safety

Sopracolle says his accident 12 years ago changed his attitude toward safety. “For sure I’ve totally adopted safety. You don’t want anything like that happening to your people. Your people are number one.”