Category: Safety Meetings

Distracted driving endangers not only those behind the wheel, but also their passengers, fellow road occupants, and pedestrians.  Drivers using hand-held devices are 4 times more likely to get into crashes serious enough to injure themselves or others.  One in 10 fatal crashes involved at least one distracted driver.

Note:  The following list was tabulated using data compiled in 2010.  Since then, deaths from “texting while driving” have exploded, and are responsible for over 11,000 deaths a year and over 360,000 injuries a year.

Distracted driving is “any activity that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your mind off your primary task of driving safely“.

10.  Smoking-related (includes smoking, lighting up, putting ashes in tray).  Shouldn’t be an issue in XPAT company vehicles, as smoking is prohibited.

9.  Moving objects.  Cell phones, sunglasses, or anything that will take your eyes off the road.

8.  Using devices or controls that are integral to the vehicle.  Adjusting rear view mirrors, seats, or using a navigation system accounted for 1% of all fatal accidents.

7.  Adjusting audio or climate controls. 2% of all fatal accidents.

6.  Eating or Drinking.  2% of all fatal accidents are accounted to either eating or drinking.

5.  Using or reaching for a device brought into the vehicle.  2% of all fatal accidents are attributed to reaching for a cell phone, hand held navigation unit, etc.

4.  Other Occupants, talking with or looking at other people in the vehicle accounted for 5% of all fatal accidents.

3.  Outside person, object, or event.  It’s difficult to resist temptation to gawk at off-road drama or post-wreck cleanup, but this accounted for 7% of all fatal accidents.

2.  Cell Phone Use, (talking, listening, dialing, or texting).  This offense accounted for 12% of all fatal accidents.

1.  Generally distracted or “lost in thought”.  Driving “in a fog” or seemingly on autopilot is, above all, the riskiest driving behavior.  Daydreaming accounted for 62% of all fatal accidents.

Conclusion:

Being distracted while driving can get you and others killed.  Think about how you drive and are you distracted?  Eliminate all distractions while driving to be as safe as you can be while on the road.

Questions:

1. What is the most dangerous distraction while driving?
2. Talking to others in the vehicle accounts for what % of fatal accidents?

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ANGER – Just one letter short of DANGER

If you have angry workers on your job or you yourself are angry, you may end up reporting more injuries on the job. A recent study by the Annals of Family Medicine found that high levels of anger increase the risk of injury. Angry people are more likely to sustain injuries serious enough to require emergency medical care, and the risk is higher for men than women, says lead author Daniel Vinson of the University of Missouri.

The study, in the Annals of Family Medicine, found that nearly 32% of all the patients reported being irritable just before they were injured, 18% reported being angry and 13% reported being hostile.

Anger more than quadrupled a person’s odds of being injured, while being hostile increased those odds sixfold. For men, Vinson says, the link was particularly clear. Another study that followed 100 drivers for two weeks linked episodes of anger with “near accidents”. Two additional studies found that angry people were more likely to have car crashes.

There is little doubt that anger can be a contributing factor in workplace injuries, but what do you do about it? Here are some tips:

• Consciously determine to be calm. Don’t react, think! Remember your goals and respond appropriately. Choose to remain calm!
• Communicate. When someone upsets you, tell them. Calmly talk to them about how you feel about their words or actions. Learn to express yourself better — clear and composed. Choose to!
• Remove yourself. Get away from the scene until you can respond without anger. Your success will not happen overnight. Take it one step at a time, one day at a time. Remember to relax. Relaxation exercises or music can be helpful. Keep in mind you can reach out to someone you trust for help. Choose to!
• Frequently take time for yourself. Do something you enjoy like walking in the park, swimming, reading the Bible, or seeing a feel-good movie. Do something nice for someone you admire. It’s okay to feel good about yourself. Choose to!
• Look for the positives. Don’t dwell on the negatives. “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Don’t worry about things that are out of your personal control. This is difficult, but it is an attitude and behavior that can be learned!

Conclusion:

Anger has no part in our workplace.

Questions:

1. Being angry increases your chance of injury by how much?
2. What anger issues do you need to work on?

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What is LOTO?

Lockout/Tagout/Tryout protects a worker by preventing others from turning on equipment or from a release of energy while working on or servicing equipment & machinery, working inside a grain bin, and working around conveyors and augers.  LOTO controls hazardous energy.

How does it work?

All power sources are disconnected and locked in the off position. Each person involved locks out the power with their own personal lock and key so they have control of the energy source. They place a tag on the lock to warn others and to identify who is responsible. Before beginning work, each person tries the energy source to ensure it is locked out. No one else can remove another’s lock. Therefore, no one can accidentally turn on the equipment. In some facilities, only designated people can lockout power sources and/or an alternative group lockout process is used.

What is the LOTO procedure?

Lockout/Tagout/Tryout

• Identify the equipment/ machinery that needs to be shut down and ALL its energy sources. • Electrical, mechanical, gravitational, thermal, hydraulic, pneumatic, and chemical.
• Determine if there are any stored energy sources: • Capacitors, springs; elevated components; rotating flywheels; hydraulic systems; air, gas, steam, water pressure; piles that can shift; etc.
• Properly shut down equipment and machines: • Notify affected workers about the shutdown – those who work on the machines or equipment or work in area where LOTO will be done. • Shut off the power sources. • Apply locks & tags to the power sources so the machine/equipment cannot be started.
• TRY OUT – Test to see if the equipment is properly locked out by trying to start it. • After the work is completed, remove all tools. • Notify all employees the locks will be removed and the equipment will be restarted.

When do we need LOTO?

• Before any repairs, maintenance or service on equipment.
• Before any work that requires a person to place any part of their body in or near the point of operation.

Questions:

1.  LOTO controls what kind of energy?
2.  Do you know the LOTO procedure for the type of equipment you work with?

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Signs of a Cold:

• 1 to 3 days after infection, symptoms start with a sore throat, some weakness, congestion, and scratchy eyes.
• Sneezing, runny nose, headache, chills, and a mild fever follow.
• Symptoms may last up to 10 days.  It is normally not necessary to stop working.

Symptoms that indicate a virus is NOT a cold:

• If you experience high fever not relieved by aspirin, Tylenol or ibuprofen.
• If you have a persistent severe sore throat or your throat has white spots.
• If you have chest pain or difficulty breathing.
• If you have a temperature of 101 degrees or higher that lasts more than two days.

How can you prevent catching a cold or the flu?

• Do not share food, drinks, or drinking/eating utensils.
• Use antibacterial soap or disinfectant frequently.
• Frequent hand washing.
• Keep dirty hands away from your face.

How can I avoid passing the virus to others?

• Practice good hygiene.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
• Avoid spitting on the ground.
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect frequently touched areas
• Keep your hands clean.

Conclusion:

Although the cure for Colds and Flu has yet to be discovered, there are measures that can be taken to avoid getting sick in the first place.  Follow these tips to help avoid the discomfort from needlessly catching and spreading colds and the flu.

Questions:

1. Name one thing to avoid passing colds & flu to others?
2. Name one thing to prevent catching a cold or the flu?

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Driving in Wet Weather

Highways are a marvelous example of modern engineering, but no matter how good or bad the roads are, they can still become very dangerous. Driving speeds can be very dangerous and should be reduced when rain is on the roadway. Below are some helpful suggestions for driving in wet weather.

When the roads are slippery, look far ahead to anticipate emergencies or conditions that may require sud­den maneuvering of your vehicle. Most skids that occur on the highway are caused by sudden stops or turn­ing on slippery pavement.

When driving on hills, special precautions should be taken. When going over the top of a blind hill, go at a speed that will enable you to bring your vehicle to a stop in case the highway ahead is not clear. Remember that when going downgrade, both loss of traction and gravity are working against you. Wet covered pavement on downgrades is a significant hazard and may cause your vehicle to slide or skid.

Do not try to drive around or through a scene where other vehicles have had trouble with the road condi­tions. The cause of the road conditions may still be there when you arrive.

You should always allow plenty of clearance between your vehicle and other vehicles, or fixed objects when maneuvering on bad road surfaces. Avoid driving on the shoulder of any road, particularly in wet condi­tions. Undermining caused by water and mud may cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

During the winter months, the lighting system of a vehicle becomes very important. Nights are longer and the visibility is usually worse because of the weather. It is a good idea to inspect brake lights, turn signals, and tail lights on a vehicle more often during the winter months and to clean them when necessary so they can be easily seen by others around you on the highways.

Even though all precautions and good practices are followed, watch out! There will still be occasions when conditions become too hazardous to proceed. When conditions are bad, pull off the road to a safe place and notify XPAT the reason for the delay. A brief delay in your trip will be far less costly than a serious accident caused by wet weather.

Conclusion:

Slow down in wet weather conditions.  Allow more time to get to and from the job site.

Questions:

1. Most skids that occur on the highway are caused by what?
2. Going downgrade, loss of traction and what other force are working against you?

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There are only two instances where disabling equipment safety devices are allowed by XPAT.

1. Equipment maintenance
2. Equipment Testing (stand alone unit testing)

That’s it. Those are your only two options. Procedures are in place to keep everyone safe on the job. Follow the procedures, and everyone will be safe.

As an XPAT employee, I certify that:

• I have the required training and knowledge to safety perform my job
• I obtain authorization from my supervisor or the company representative if required to override or disable a safety critical control
• I will stop work and notify my supervisor or the company representative if a procedural deviation is required

By submitting the form below, you acknowledge following all SOP’s and understand the importance of NEVER disabling equipment safety devices, except for equipment maintenance and stand alone testing.

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Please complete the following for the XPAT Vehicle that you are driving. Thanks.

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Notification of Antibody Testing Protocols to Suppliers (XPAT)

Since March, ConocoPhillips has implemented safety protocols across our operations to ensure the safety of our workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. As part of our continued efforts, we are beginning the next phase of our return to work plan for the Eagle Ford. In addition to temperature checks and screening questions, this phase will include a request for antibody testing for individuals who have traveled to a high-risk area in the last 14-days.

Effective June 10, all individuals visiting our Kenedy office, stabilizers, drilling rigs or other field operational sites will be required to review their 14-day travel history against a current list of high-risk Texas counties and Louisiana parishes. The list of high-risk areas is determined weekly using publicly available data sets. If an individual has recently traveled to a high-risk area, they will be required to take a COVID-19 Antibody finger prick test before entering the facility. The tests take approximately 10 minutes and will be administered by a qualified third-party provider. If antibodies are detected, individuals are required to contact their supervisor for further instructions and evaluation.

Our primary goal of implementing these additional screening measures is to continue to protect the health and safety of our workforce as we begin to return additional personnel to our field locations.

Thank you for your cooperation as we implement these procedures.

Tom Barnes, L48 Exploration & GCBU Wells Manager

Conclusion:

Guys, you are going to be screened every time you show up to a COP location. Make sure that you add in some time to complete these screenings

Walt

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All field employees need to read & download the LOTO procedures for all pumping equipment that XPAT uses. There are two procedures, one for the 125, 300, & 500 hp pumps, and another for the 1800 hp pumps. The brand new pumps will have a procedure written and published for them also.

Please read through (and download to your phone), so that you have these procedures accessible anytime you need them. After reading them, answer the questions below.

Procedure for 125, 300, & 500 hp pumps

Procedure for 1800 hp pumps

If you need this information later, these procedures can be found on the training page on this website.

Thanks
XPAT HSE

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The Operations department would like to remind all XPAT workers of the Special Rules for XPAT FRAC workers:

• Be on time to location. (You don’t have to be early, but you can’t be late.)
• No sleeping on the job.
• Trucks are to be cleaned and washed daily after each use.
• No leaving location during work hours without express permission of the General Manager or Operations Manager for any reason.
• You must attend the morning or evening on-site safety meeting.
• Prior to leaving location, you must do everything to insure your relief’s continued operational success:
  • Fill water tanks
  • Make sure all tools are accounted for and in their proper place
  • Clean trash around test unit and dispose of properly
• No overcharging on hours. 13 hours is the maximum number of hours you can charge per shift on FRAC’s even with travel time. XPAT does not have to pay for travel time. We pay this to allow for the time it takes to daily clean & wash your truck.

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