Recently, my good lifetime friend, Jim, lost his 14-year-old grandson to suicide. I gave him space and then spoke with him yesterday. The obituary described Ryan as a happy, helpful, good kid. This is how his parents and grandparents perceived him. Yet one day, he told his father that he loved him, then left his home to go to a nearby recreation area. Less than two hours later, the coroner showed up at the father’s front door.
What does this subject have to do with well drilling and safety? The effects of a suicide can reverberate through a family and their workplace. Our companies depend on our experienced personnel to succeed. We try to provide a safe workplace and safety protection and training for our employees, hoping to avoid a lost-time incident that takes away one of those assets — even if just for a couple of days. The sudden loss of a loved one to suicide is a devastation that can last long after a return to work.