WorldWide Drilling Resource

WorldWide Drilling Resource ® is a proud member of this association. National Drilling Association Tel: 877-632-4748 Fax: 216-803-9900 www.nda4u.com 11 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® FEBRUARY 2014 in-house sessions on this topic for your crew. Scott admin@ worldwidedrillingresource.com Safety Spotlight: Winter Travel Tips by Scott Cosby My hometown experienced a sig- nificant snow and sleet event during the time of this article, so we will exam- ine some tips relating to winter travel. Of course, the best option is: If you don’t have to be out, then don’t! In our industry, travel is often required, even in less than desirable situations. These tips include: 1. Know the route and weather conditions. Let someone in your office or firm know your route of travel. Keep in regular contact until you reach your destination. 2. Pack a winter travel safety kit. Include a charged cell phone, an ice scraper and brush, tow rope, cat litter (for traction), blankets, a good flashlight, food and water, and a can of de-icer. Also, a basic first aid kit is a good idea for your travel safety kit. 3. Slow down. Agood rule of thumb is to reduce speed by 50% in snowy conditions. Equally important: Don’t go too slow. The vehicle needs momentum to keep moving through snow on grades. 4. Keep a light touch on the con- trols. Smooth operation is the key to maintaining control in slippery situations. 5. Know how to recover from skids. When braking on a slippery road, it’s all too easy to “lock up” the wheels by stepping on the brakes a little too hard. At the start of a skid, steer the vehicle gently in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go and don’t touch the brakes. 6. Make frequent rest stops. Winter travel is much more fatiguing, so stop every hour or so. Get out, stretch! It takes only five minutes to signifi- cantly improve alertness. 7. If you get stuck, stay in the vehicle. Stay warm and wait for assistance. Use the charged cell phone in your kit! The Web site (http://exchange.aaa . com/safety/roadway-safety/winter-dri- ving-tips/) can provide good information on this topic. A good plan is to provide