What it’s like to Work as an Oil Rig Worker

Drilling rigs explore new areas to tap for oil. They operate 24/7 and whoever is working on them will most likely be moving to a new place every few months. While working on a drilling rig can be rewarding, it is not for everyone. Here are a few things one can expect:

• Working long hours outdoors, no matter what the weather
• Driving long distances
• Performing hard physical work for 12-hour shifts on a 24-hour shift rotation. Drillers work on a rig for two or three weeks, followed by a two to three rest period in between.
• Being part of a team and working with a variety of people
• Working in remote locations

What’s the Environment Like?

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• Oil drilling rigs are small and alcohol and cigarettes are banned.
• Everyone wears protective clothing: harnesses, hand gloves, hard hats, ear defenders and thermal boiler suits.

It is a requirement for oil rig workers to know everything about workover rigs, drilling and the safety and health precautions that come with the job. Since the job requires a lot of manual labor, they must be physically fit and able to work at heights. More importantly, they should be able to work with a team. They’re going to spend a lot of time away from home, so it would be in their interests to function and get along well around the people they work with.