Personal protective equipment (PPE) cuts the risk from hazards common and uncommon. PPE for drillers might include hard hats, ear plugs, eye protection, steel-toed boots, heavy gloves, maybe safety apparel for folks working near traffic. Let’s talk hard hats.
Many types of drilling have overhead hazards. You move pipe this way and that. You winch up, add to the string and do it again. Heavy steel objects move in or around a driller or helper’s shoulder and head areas. Hard hats reduce the risk of hits to the head, potentially preventing injury or lessening injury if it happens. Yet, several times in my nearly 8 years running National Driller, I’ve heard drillers talk about how they prefer not to wear them.