Directional Drilling Safety: What You Need to Know

It is essential to stay safe when completing your drilling project. Here is our quick guide to proper directional drilling safety.

Did you know that there are over 700,000 construction workers throughout the USA? It's a huge industry that is the backbone of the country. If you're a construction worker, you may or may not have had to do some directional drilling.

If you've got to do this on a job site soon and you want to brush up on your best safety practices, then this article is for you.

(Make sure you also do some more research beyond this article so that you can confidently understand all the safety regulations before undertaking the task).

Directional Drilling Safety: What You Need to Know

Proper Equipment

Before you even go anywhere near the drill, you need to first ensure that you have all the right equipment for the job. Before any drilling can begin, all equipment should be checked by a senior member of staff to make sure that everyone is complying with safety regulations. 

The first piece of equipment that you need when horizontal drilling is electrically insulated footwear. These specially made work boots are designed to help prevent you from being shocked if your drill makes contact with an electrical component. 

Workers should also wear eye protection, rubber gloves, and hearing protection. If you can't afford to buy brand-new equipment, don't stress. Second-hand equipment that is still in good condition will do just as good of a job. 

Take a look and shop around for some used ditch witch equipment to see what you can get for less. 

Operating The Drill

Now you can move on to using the drill. The first rule is that the head of the drill should always be tracked so that it stays on its set course. You can use special electromagnetic trackers that can detect and follow the drill head the entire time that it's in use. 

Bear in mind though that the signal for these trackers can be interrupted. Some examples of things that will interrupt a tracker include:

• Electric fences

• Buried utility cables 

• Other forms of transmitters

• Stormy weather

• Steel pipes

• Nearby salt-water

Because there are so many things that can interrupt the tracker's signal, it's vital the drill operator and the tracking device operator are in constant and clear communication. 

Hazards

There are a number of different hazards that a worker could face when on a job site using a horizontal drill. One of the biggest hazards is electrocution. It's absolutely vital that all care is taken to avoid hitting utility lines with the drill. Properly insulated clothing is also highly recommended. 

Keep clear of the rotating shaft and drill head at all times. Never stand on or straddle the drill string, and don't stand in the receiving pit where the drill is going to exit. 

Be Safe When Directional Drilling

Directional drilling is an activity that comes with a degree of risk. The safety regulations that you have to follow are there for a reason; to protect yourself and others from harm or serious injury. Take time to do your research and get to know all the relevant safety information before you undertake the job.

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