For the past few columns, I’ve talked about the direction I think the industry should head. This month, I would like to get back to the topic of safety.
There are many places our industry could and should improve. For example, think about the development of effective safety programs, and jobsite health and safety plans. These two components, if properly developed and enforced, can go a long way toward changing the culture of a company and eventually our industry. All too often, companies put rules in place for OSHA compliance, but these rules are not effectively enforced. That leaves us with the appearance of safety but no measurable change in the safety culture of our company. Fellow The Driller contributor Brock Yordy — my co-host on the Brock & Dave Drillercast — coined a term for this: a “safety façade.”