In my last few columns I have been writing about tough or difficult jobs that I’ve encountered in my career, and how I have solved them. Recently, I was driving to an appointment and I passed a drill rig that appeared to be drilling a new well very near the road I was driving on. I think this was perhaps a small irrigation well, but I’m not sure. What I am sure of is the fact that both the driller and his helper were working bare headed. They had no hard hats on, not even baseball caps — as if a baseball cap has a safety factor. It got me to thinking about safety on the job and safety equipment.
Readers, let’s face it: Our industry does not have a really great safety record. We regularly operate powerful and dangerous equipment — that’s just what we do. One of my pet peeves, and I have had this one for many years, is that we preach safety, safety, safety, and yet I often see workers operating in an unsafe manner. Worse yet, in my opinion, are pictures in our trade magazines of workers without hard hats, safety glasses, proper gloves and other safety equipment.