What gear to bring for oilfield jobs?

On a related issue, I am sure most employers require safety boots. I would like opinions on what are the most comfortable for those 12 hour days. If you are in the service side (frac, cementing, etc) what works for you? Thanks.

 

Companies will tell you what they want. Most are the same. I use Timberland boots. Have large safety toe that doesn't hurt my feet. Winter used Walls FR non-insulated coveralls. About $50. Anytime over about 50' used a set of Stanco Nomex coveralls. $130. Very light and breeze passes through. Can easily get to 125-130' with all machinery running on a frac job. Would have quit if I had to wear the heavy ones all yr. Hard hat. I like full rim pit style but what ever you want. No bump caps most places. Safety glasses or prescription w/side shields in place. Respirator on some jobs. H2S monitor required on some jobs. I just wore one all the time. Company supplied it. Pretty much it. This is TX, LA, OK,NM. Sure up in ND, PA, others they have a little different list. Had rain gear but used it once in 14 months.

 

Steel toed boots are required at every job I'm aware of. Personal Clothing will vary depending what area you go to ( Northern climes are much colder, of course. ) As far as FR's ( Fire Resistant ) pants and shirts or jumpsuits are sometimes provided by employers or the employers should be able to tell you where to obtain them. These can be very expensive, so be sure to ask about them during the interview. The employers will most likely provide a H2S monitor to clip onto your shirt. These are expensive as well and as an electronic piece of equipment need to be tested on a periodic basis. The rest of the clothing and gear one should need are the same as an OTR job. Don't think I overlooked anything here. The training on H2S and other Safety issues will be decided by which Oil Company holds the Lease. Almost all of this training is periodically re-taught if your company is working for a new Lease Holder. In general, the different Oil Companies use different terminology but it boils down to the same Safety Practices. Hope this helps. Big Duker's post above this one was posted while I was typing and was very informative about some things I forgot to mention.

 

i am home daily, and I lived here in South Texas before this started, so I can not comment on the creature comforts that one would bring with them to the job.

As far equipment for the job goes, the only thing that I am required to provide is steel toed boots or shoes. The company that I work for provides a uniform service which supplies our Fire Resistant (FR) clothing. My company also provides everything else, H2S monitor, hard hat, safety glasses, gloves, truck & trailer with all fittings, wrenches, hoses etc to do the job. I have only worked for one other crude company and they too provided everything, but you had to wash your own uniforms. i have heard tale of companies that provide none of the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is going to put the burden on the driver to purchase on local market at considerable expense. FR pants & shirts at a minimum of $50.00 each. Also provided by the company is a neutered iPad which has our dispatch program as an app and also allows limited internet use.

The nice to haves that the company does not provide include a flashlight and/or helmet light, don't get fancy because you will loose em or break them. Rain coat and rubber boots, Walmart in this area sells steel toed rubber boots for under $20.00. I don't leave the yard without my personal iPad & iPhone, they provide entertainment for the periods of waiting, but most of all they provide maps and communication. The company that we are contracted to haul oil for provides paper lease maps that the company has scanned into each company iPad, so having your own is not essential. I have heard that some oil companies in North Dakota make you by a map book from the oil company which contains the lease maps. A roll of TP is a must have for those times you are about to crap yourself. A lot of our leases have porta-potties, but they are hit and miss and you can not count on them being there, they are there one day gone the next, back again next week. A small ice chest for drinks and your lunch if you choose to bring it. Where I work, you will be stuck eating Subway or out of a convenience store that are sprinkled about every 40 miles or so.

 

There was some discussion about safety boots on another thread and the most popular seemed to be Redwings and Doc Martins.

 

Justins, but I sit on my butt driving most of the night. I have had the same pair for 2.5 years and they are doing just fine.

 

Some even require lace up safety toe boots. I know Sunoco does. I am a big fan of Rocky boots. Very comfortable,waterproof and not near the cost of Red Wings or Danners. If you have to buy your own FR clothing be prepared! Carhartt FR jeans start around $80 a pair. Jackets are $150 and up.

 

Now to find a FR Cowboy hat!!

 

In Texas they call that "all hat, no cattle".