WorldWide Drilling Resource

• See the doctor about sleep disor- ders, medications for illness, and using bright light on the job or dur- ing waking hours. • Eat well at the beginning of the day with high-protein foods and end- ing with carbohydrates. Do not eat great quantities before bedtime; it may cause trouble sleeping. • Walking or stretching can help a person stay awake. Exercise will give you stamina and help you to fall asleep later. • Work carefully and very methodi- cally, always following proper pro- cedures. Consult your local health profes- sional for more information. There is a wide variety of online sources concern- ing this topic as well. Provide in-house sessions for drill operators and crew members on this topic year-round. Scott Scott Cosby may be contacted via e-mail at michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com WorldWide Drilling Resource ® 16 MARCH 2015 Safety Spotlight: Fatigue by Scott Cosby The topic this month will focus on fatigue. Drill rig work requires focused attention in the field. Accidents can be- come serious or even fatal if a crew member is fatigued or in the process of becoming such, and loses their atten- tion. We’ll examine the signs and best ways to combat fatigue during drilling operations. Fatigue is the condition of being physically or mentally tired or exhausted. Extreme fatigue can lead to uncontrolled and involuntary shutdown of the brain. Below are some of the signs to look for, to help identify fatigue. People who are under significant fatigue will not be able to identify it themselves. These signs include: • Slow movement. • Memory problems. • Trouble focusing. • Head droop. • Cannot stop yawning. • Near-miss accident. The best ways to fight fatigue in- clude: • Get eight hours of sleep before starting work. • Sleep at the same time each day. During rotating shifts, establish clock- wise rotations (from day to evening to night). Clockwise rotating makes it easier to go to sleep. • Take all scheduled work breaks. A snack or exercise during the break will refresh you.