Safety

The Work We Planned Is Not the Work We Do

Thu, 05 Nov 2026 11:28:36 -0500

When experienced drilling crews consistently deliver results despite difficult conditions, their success can mask deeper operational problems. Leaders must look beyond completed jobs to understand the workarounds, pressures and hidden risks that make those results possible.

This Safety Helmet is Giving Conventional Hard Hats a Refresh

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 15:18:42 -0400

Job-Site Safety Institute and Comer Construction Pilot Launch a Type II Safety Helmet

OSHA Cites Florida Pipeline Contractor After Fatal Drilling Incident

Mon, 12 Oct 2026 17:03:32 -0400

The incident occurred while employees were replacing a drill bit on a horizontal drilling machine

Three bits: Recapping a handful of top stories this week, in case you missed them

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:40:04 -0400

Your routine roundup of news and notes curated by The Driller

Fall Back. A Plan for What's Ahead

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 10:12:15 -0400

Shorter days, colder temperatures and changing jobsite conditions bring new risks for drilling crews. Here's why safety planning must account for seasonal hazards before they become costly mistakes.

National Protect Your Hearing Month: Elevating Professionalism Through 21st Century Safety

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 12:07:55 -0400

Noise comes with the job, permanent hearing loss does not have to. Modern PPE can help drillers communicate clearly, work safely and protect their hearing for the long haul.

Stop Asking "What Were You Thinking?" After a Safety Incident

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

When an unsafe shortcut gets the job done, it can quickly start to feel like experience. Instead of asking, “What were you thinking?” after something goes wrong, ask why the decision made sense in the first place, and what could make the safer choice easier next time.

Wildfire Smoke Should Be Treated as an Ongoing Health Hazard for Outdoor Workers. Here's Why.

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 12:45:05 -0400

Drilling crews are continuing full shifts even as air quality alerts intensify. Many don't have the right respiratory protection, or even realize what they have won't actually protect them

Why Safety Training Still Fails in 2026

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:47:00 -0400

Safety culture isn't built through posters and checklists alone. It relies on understanding your workforce: how employees learn, and what leaders do after the training’s over.

The Tale of Two Mentors: How Knowledge Keepers and Wisdom Sharers Redefine Field Experience

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Veteran drillers can either guard what they know or pass it on. The difference can shape safety, uptime, crew development and the future of the trade.

Remembering Porky

kgabriel@bnpmedia.com (Kerith Gabriel) — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Drilling professional Howard “Porky” Cutter, MGWC, was ahead of his time when it came to the future of drilling.

The Differences in Safety Culture Between Employees and Contractors

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 12:23:31 -0400

Global safety statistics show that contracted workers are injured more frequently than permanent work force. The disparity has nothing to do with skill or competence

2026 State of the Drilling Industry Report

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A latest look at what’s powering water, energy and infrastructure

Looking for a good pair of work gloves? We did the research.

kgabriel@bnpmedia.com (Kerith Gabriel) — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:23:30 -0400

The Driller editors did the homework and picked three solid options

The Summer Safety Four and 2026 Jubilee Preview

kgabriel@bnpmedia.com (Kerith Gabriel) — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 16:02:58 -0400

Brock Yordy breaks down the "Summer Safety Four," covering trenching, extreme heat, air quality, and volatile atmospheres. Plus, get a preview of what to expect at this year's South Atlantic Jubilee.

As Temperatures Rise, So Do the Risks: Why Safety Can't Take a Day Off

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Complacency can be one of the biggest hazards on a drilling jobsite. From routine equipment inspections to heat stress and near misses, the small decisions crews make every day can have the biggest impact on safety.

The silent safety hazard? Neglecting the mental health of our drilling and construction workforce

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:36:08 -0400

The idea of leave the drama at home and get back to work is the standard. But how's that working out for today's tradesmen?

PPE is not just physical, it's also needs to be protection for the mental health of our workforce too

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:05:12 -0400

You would never step onto a site without proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Your mental health requires its own PPE load out.

The science of creating stable boreholes, explained

Thu, 21 May 2026 06:00:43 -0400

Knowing the right way could mean the difference between a clear compact borehole wall and needing to rethink the whole process entirely.

Plugging your drill bits? Consider the following...

Wed, 13 May 2026 14:52:56 -0400

From tricone to PDCs, today's bits are impressive and powerful as they've ever been. But they’re only as effective as how they’re utilized.

Relentless Heat in 2026 Raises Stakes for Drilling Safety

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

More frequent and intense heatwaves are becoming part of the operating landscape, not an exception to it.

From Olympic Water Strain to the DOE’s Energy Shakeup

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 09:00:00 -0500

Episode 157 of The Driller Newscast finds host Brock Yordy connecting winter safety, major DOE restructuring, and the growing overlap between water, drilling, and geothermal energy.

A Driller's Life: Safety at Home

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Entry number 8 of Jim Beath's engrossing series - this one is about safety on and off the rig.

A Driller's Life: The Safety Culture

Wed, 28 Jan 2026 13:31:20 -0500

We're lucky to be working in a safety culture. Is it becoming an industry of its own? I'd say yes, and we can’t stop it, nor should we. If we just follow the light that the safety gods shine at our feet, all might be well. Right? Who knows? I do know that if I hadn’t broken my wrist, you wouldn't be reading this.

Drilling Safety Starts Behind the Wheel

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 13:00:00 -0500

In light of the Jan. 9, 2015 Interstate 94 massive vehicle pileup, it is a good time to reflect on our industry and the many miles we drive every day.

Don't Let the Cold Take Out Your Crew

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

A cold crew is a distracted crew—and on a drilling site, distractions get expensive fast. Following are simple strategies for staying ahead of cold stress:

Safety Isn’t Optional: A Sobering Reminder from the Jobsite

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Safety is not a box to check. It is a culture. It is a mindset. It is a responsibility.

HSI Rolls Out AI-Powered Corrective Actions to Revolutionize Workplace Safety

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 21:21:56 -0400

HSI Intelligence includes several other tools designed to simplify day-to-day EHS tasks.

Digging Deeper: Why Mental Health Matters in Drilling and Construction

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Fri, 10 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

If you or someone you know is struggling, reach out. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 for free, confidential mental health support anytime.

OSHA: Saving Lives in Tight Spaces

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

As industries push forward with bigger builds, deeper digs, and faster timelines, safety must evolve, too.