Safety, Equipment, and Jobsite Practice
This domain tests whether you can set up and run a rig without hurting anyone. Questions cover rig stability, overhead and underground utilities, dust and noise, pinch points, excavation and confined-space rules, and housekeeping around an open borehole.
Rig setup
- Ground must carry the load: use outriggers, cribbing, and mats, and check for fill, frost, or a septic system under the pads. Level the rig before raising the mast.
- Locate underground utilities before drilling and maintain the required minimum approach distance from energized overhead lines; use a spotter and get the utility's clearance before moving under wires.
People and process
- PPE includes eye and hearing protection, gloves, and boots. Control silica dust from cuttings with water or mist and use a respirator when needed. Keep loose clothing, jewelry, and hands away from rotating pipe and the top drive; never break a connection while it is under torque or pressure.
- Barricade or cap the hole whenever the rig is not working it, and keep the pitless and vault area covered.
Excavation and confined space
- Any excavation 5 feet or deeper needs a protective system. Test the atmosphere before entering a pit or vault, and treat it as a confined space if it meets the definition.
Worked example
A rig with a 30-foot mast is positioned 22 feet from a 12.5 kV overhead line. The required clearance is not met, so the job stops. The driller calls the utility, gets a written clearance or a relocated pad, and moves the rig before raising the mast. Doing the work and watching the wire is not an option.
Traps that cost marks
- Assuming covered or insulated lines are safe to work near.
- Standing under suspended casing or tools.
- Entering a pit without an atmosphere test.
- Leaving an open hole unbarricaded overnight.