The oil and gas industry is a hazardous field.
The Centers for Disease Control maintains that oil and gas are among the most hazardous professions. For such occupations, strong communication is essential.
According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the primary threats facing workers in this industry are auto accidents, heavy machinery issues, explosions and fires, and equipment malfunctions. One thing such accidents all have in common: they represent communication failures in the industry.
Communication is an essential skill – and an even more critical industry principle. There are many benefits to effective communication in oil rigs and drilling, from worker safety to boosting productivity.
Use this guide to learn everything you need to know about effective communication in oil rigs and drilling.
The Value of Communication
Communication is an essential aspect of any business.
Every thriving work environment depends upon strong communication, no matter which industry you work in – from marketing to gas and oil.
Communication technology, also called information technology, refers to the systems and programs in an organization that facilitates communication within and without the company.
In today’s modern age, the sheer availability of communication technologies makes it easier than ever to facilitate essential processes, from onboarding to operations.
Employees must have a means of exchanging information to keep themselves and others safe, maximizing productivity and efficiency on the job.
Communication is mainly in the oil and gas industry since the job depends on leveraging heavy machinery and complex technologies. Workers depend upon the availability of sophisticated communication channels to protect them – and increase the value of their work.
The Hazards of Poor Communication
Poor communication can significantly impact any industry, particularly oil and gas.
Without proper communication, workers can be subjected to any one of the following hazards:
- Vehicle collisions
- Explosions and fires
- Collapsed or confined spaces
- High-pressure lines and equipment
- Electrical charges
- Falls
Ultimately, effective communication is crucial to the smooth functioning of your operations. Learn more about how assistive communication technologies can improve your overall company.
Benefits of Communication in Oil Rigs and Drilling
There are innumerable benefits to maintaining strong communication in oil rigs and drilling.
Consider the following before investing in a robust solution for your employees.
Worker Safety
The offshore industry is known to be a dangerous one. According to the Center for Public Integrity, 1,566 workers perished from 2008 through 2017. This figure suggests that oil rigs and drilling have a death rate of 25 per 100,000 workers – the highest across most industries.
Offshore operations involve using hazardous equipment and heavy machinery, which commonly provoke accidents. Noise reduction can also aid in worker safety. It’s vital to keep noise reduction ratings in mind.
Thankfully, having access to a vital communication channel can limit worker exposure to such accidents, ensuring the utmost safety of your operations.
When you leverage an effective communication platform for your team, you enable necessary data transfers to keep your workers alert and ready to respond.
Additionally, emergency communication channels can alert your employees in the event of an accident or pressing issue, allowing more people to reach safety.
If a worker discovers a breach, for example, they can more quickly report it to you, saving lives – as well as time and money – in the process.
Maximized Efficiency
Communication is an essential component of efficiency.
Your employees can work at the highest level with a reliable means to communicate with one another and with you. When they share slowly, they gain precious time, potentially provoking more issues.
To that end, you’ll need to implement a reliable communication system to ensure team engagement and maximize efficiency.
With an effective system, employees can communicate about problems in real-time, devising creative solutions in more moments.
Additionally, employees can quickly redress misunderstandings and prevent future problems, allowing them to focus on work – and allowing you to scale your business.
Increased Productivity
Many businesses need help with productivity.
You might have a communication issue if you are experiencing such a phenomenon. Research suggests that solid communication improves productivity by 25%. Communication significantly enhances your operations, allowing employees to enjoy accessible and reliable support. This means they spend less time troubleshooting issues someone else might already have the answer to.
Additionally, efficient communication channels work to your advantage to ensure that movement is always possible. For example, if an employee doesn’t know the answer to a question, they won’t need to wait for someone to show up to resolve the problem.
Lastly, communication improves teamwork and enhances your company culture, maximizing collaboration and increasing efficiency.
Improved Company Culture
Your company culture is the ethos of your environment – how workers feel when they work with your company.
Company culture is a notoriously tricky thing to curate and reproduce. Thankfully, there is one easy way to improve your company’s culture: communication.
Research suggests that reliable internal communication methods are among the strongest predictors of excellent company culture.
A better culture means better retention – and more loyal employees. Your employees will enjoy being at work and be able to rely on receiving rapid answers to their every question. As a result, you won’t have to hire as often, and you’ll be able to hold on to good people for as long as possible.
Better Worker Experience
Ultimately, the most crucial benefit of a robust communication system is the improved worker experience.
When you improve communication, you also facilitate collaboration, innovation, and company culture. You create an environment where connecting to others is lightning-fast and possible at every moment.
You keep your workers safe – and let them know you are doing so – improving company morale and encouraging others to work for you.
Ultimately, there is no reason not to work with a robust communication system.
So, Why is Effective Communication Important in Oil Rigs & Drilling?
Having a high-quality communication system can protect you and your workers from harm.
Additionally, state-of-the-art solutions can enhance productivity and maximize efficiency, keeping operations moving steadily.
Most importantly, effective communication ensures a healthy work environment and contemporary company culture, which keeps your employees sticking around longer and more prepared to commit to their work.
If you’re still on the fence, this is your sign. Consider implementing a communication system for your company.
