As drilling professionals, we should encourage consistently safe behaviors from all drill crew members, tool pushers, foremen and even the company owner. One of the most effective ways to do this is to lead by example. When we do things in the safest way possible, we give others around us incentive to stop and think about safety in their daily tasks. This is a very easy concept on the surface, but it seems to be a much harder thing to do in the “real world.”
Why is the “real world” in quotes? Because, as far as I can tell, the “real world” is one of the most dangerous places in the universe. Often, before a driller does something they know they should probably not do, they say to their helper, “Let me show you how it’s done in the ‘real world.’ ” Sometimes, nothing bad happens and everyone walks away unscathed with undamaged equipment. Other times, something breaks or someone gets hurt because an unsafe act can get someone killed in the “real world.”