In 2015, the focus was on jobsite innovations that would make the job easier and safer. The next step, and the 2016 focus, is that people are the most important component of a great company. The latest technology and best practices will not work without the right people. Scaling up requires a good balance of experienced employees and new talent. What does it take for a 21st-century drilling company to keep talent and acquire new? It requires good leaders, mentors and the ability to understand a new hire’s mindset. According to Forbes, by 2020, millennials will make up 50 percent of the United States workforce and by 2030, 75 percent of the global workforce. The workforce is always changing and evolving, and it is up to your business to adapt and embrace the next generation of employees. Regardless of the age or generation, all new hires require safety, proper knowledge, mentors and great leadership.
A great leader, Chip Miller of Halliburton, implemented the statement “Safety is a condition of employment.” The statement is simple and powerful: Unsafe actions will not be tolerated. The frequent movement of drilling rigs prevents OSHA inspectors from making jobsite visits. Old and new employees alike have to adopt a safety mindset. New employees have to be taught safe jobsite practices from the start. Regardless of the size of your company, it is important to appoint a safety manager and follow their directions for health, safety and environmental regulation. Start reporting near misses. A near miss can be defined as any close call or minor accident that could have caused property damage or injury. Record near misses to better understand what job tasks have the potential to cause damage, injury or both. If you reflect back on one catastrophic incident on your jobsite, I am sure you can think of three to four unrecorded near miss incidents. Recently, a driller told me a story about a worn out breakout wrench that was like playing Russian roulette. The wrench eventually broke, and he showed me a surgical scar on his right forearm. A safe job is not only a condition of employment, but a matter of life and death.