Behind the Wheel at Work

“The biggest challenge in the [oil and gas extraction] industry regarding young employee drivers is: Impressing upon them that driving is a critical part of their job and not simply something they do every day to get to a job site. Young or new employees try hard to make a good impression on their supervisors so they work hard and often end up rushing things. Many have inadequate safe driving skills or an inappropriate attitude about work-related driving… It’s our job to build a culture of driving safety into their work routine to ensure they get home safely every day.”

Colonel Mark Trostel
Driving Safety Advisor, Encana Oil and Gas

“As a safety professional in the [oil and gas extraction] industry for 25+ years, I have learned that our employees are more at risk driving to and from work, than they are working on a drilling rig. Driving while fatigued, driving while distracted or driving under the influence are the most common causes of such off-duty deaths… The ratio of off-duty motor vehicle deaths involving employees, their spouses and their children is 10X greater than our workplace fatalities.

As a parent my greatest fear for the safety of our three sons is a motor vehicle fatality. Therefore, it is important that we reinforce safe driving behaviors by sharing our driving experiences, our mishaps, and personal stories that touch the hearts of the people we love the most.”

Warren Hubler
VP Health, Safety, & Environment, Helmerich & Payne

“My employer talked about driver safety and what I needed to know before I started driving the work vehicle for the company.  When I started my job, a fellow coworker accompanied me to… see how well I was able to drive the work vehicle. I was nervous at first but found it helpful knowing the routes and expectations of my boss.”

Jack Danni
Young driver

“When my children were old enough to ride in a car without a car seat, I always told them to buckle up whether they were in the front or back seat… Also buckling myself up in the vehicle and being a visual example. Now that they are old enough to drive I see they automatically buckle-up. As for them driving a car, I started when they got their learner’s permit and had them drive everywhere. Both in town and on the highway. Teaching them the rules of the road and all the proper driving techniques.”

J.D. Danni
Oil and Gas Specialist, OSHA Region VIII

“My major driving concern for my teenage daughter was distracted driving. Texting for sure. But distracted driving is more than that. It is reading texts on your smart phone. It is talking on the phone (even if you have Bluetooth). It is trying to find the best radio station, or your favorite play list. It is having too many teenagers in the car. We would remind our daughter about the hazards of distracted driving and, when driving, have her promise to turn off her smart phone, put the cell phone in her backpack, and place the backpack in the trunk.”

Tom Hales
Medical Officer, NIOSH