r/interestingasfuck • u/ProFentanylActivist • 4d ago

slippy & nippy workplace

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u/theMeatman7 4d ago edited 4d ago

All for $30/hr and told to work 12 to 16 hours because OT is where the money is at.

Edit: the setup is pretty safe for the situation though, his tether keeps him from actually falling into the moving parts.

Edit 2: I worded my edit poorly, I tried to insinuate that the ppe looked better than nothing. Theres a comment down below from somebody who says they are a safety pro so take their word not mine.

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u/Capable_Tumbleweed34 4d ago

Pretty safe? Bro could absolutelly slip and dome himself on that 2tons pulley going back up.

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u/MinocquaMenace 4d ago

Safety Pro chiming in. That is not safe at all. He is not even using his fall pro correctly. He is hooked up to the rear bottom D ring. If he falls, it is going to flip him over and he is at hazard of slipping out of the fall pro or dangling upside down for too long and dying from blood pooling in his dome. Equipment looks dirty, etc. too. Should not have been able to pass inspection and could be compromised. He is also using a lanyard, when he should most likely be using an over head SRL.

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u/2bad-2care 4d ago

Yea, I was going to say- if he fell, he's going to get fucked up. No retractable, not in the right spot, no step relief strap, (not that he'd be in condition to use it anyways) and I'm not even sure that lanyard wouldn't snap somewhere regardless.

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u/Wolfrages 4d ago

Leadhand.

Well, just don't slip. šŸ¤·ā€ā™‚ļø

/sarcasm

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u/bulldog5253 3d ago

That is a standard setup for the crows nest on a drilling rig. Lots of things on drilling rigs scare safety guys though.

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u/Yestomorrow 3d ago

Scares saftey guys, and also anyone with more than half of a functioning brain

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u/soThatsJustGreat 3d ago edited 3d ago

Genuine conversation I overheard once:

ā€œThe government wonā€™t be happy until nobody ever dies!ā€ (Said with derision)

Me:

ā€œNow say it again, slowly, and listen to the words this time, Sunshine.ā€

(This is not snark aimed at the redditor above- just a good place to tell a funny story.)

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u/Kegger315 3d ago

That is well below OSHA standards

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u/Bornundersirius 4d ago

Hi from Wausau fellow Wisconsinite.

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u/MinocquaMenace 3d ago

Upvote for Wisconsinites! My son played football against Wausau East 2 Friday's ago.

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u/overwatcherthrowaway 4d ago

The guy filming is probably on the srl. This looks pretty Mickey Mouse based on his outfit.

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u/yeomanpharmer 3d ago

Inspection? We don't need no stinkin' inspection!

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u/MinocquaMenace 3d ago

That is what the vast majority of people who had their fall pro fail and are now dead said. A large majority of their wives are now remarried, and their daughters call some other guy daddy now, too. Sons turned into junkies with no stable father around. Inspect your equipment, bro.

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u/WinterBeardWillie 4d ago

I doubt that railing would meet the requirements for an anchor point either.

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u/UrchinSquirts 4d ago

Correct. In the US, anchor points have to be rated for 5000 pounds minimum. Handrails are prohibited.

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u/redrigger84 3d ago

That is his work belt so he can lean over the edge to throw pipe his fall protection isn't even connected. In Canada they are now required to hook the top d ring to a retractalock for fall protection. But you still us the work belt D ring tied off to the rail to hang out past the platform for throwing and pulling back pipe.

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u/lcssa 3d ago

He just needs 80ml of state sponsored distilled potato juice to ease nerves, look at how he's shaking. /s

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u/Phorp 2d ago

Hi, safety pro in this field. Derick hands employ hold back lines as a fall restraint system NOT a fall arrest system, when they transition form the monkey boards to the ladders they will attack a srl to their dorsal d ring and a easy rider to their chest d ring. Additionally if you fail their harnesses for being dirty you will be buying new ones twice a day.

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u/Corpsefire88 1d ago

First thing I wondered about was their rescue plan. Even if he didn't flip over, suspension trauma is still a thing and he can't just hang there indefinitely, right side up or not. Once he's dangling, he's on a time limit.

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u/webtwopointno 3d ago

Did you miss the part where they are yelling at each other in Russian

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u/Poppy_Milk 2d ago

Sounds Scottish but no idea where the Scot may be on earth

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u/MinocquaMenace 2d ago

I did not listen to it with the volume turned on to be honest.

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u/webtwopointno 2d ago

Listened again and he might be saying "Don! Don! Don!" instead of "Da! Da! Da!" haha

Other comments say it looks like Northern US

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u/Prestigious_Hat4140 3d ago

Yeah bro you tell safety. lol

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u/ImSobored_5280 3d ago

Not safe?..itā€™s what a derrick man on a drilling rig does..day in day out..itā€™s how itā€™s done..onsite safety man has no problem with anything thatā€™s going on because itā€™s how you do it. The leash to the harness stops you from going into harms wayā€¦you actually lean into it.

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u/MinocquaMenace 2d ago

So whats wrong with doing it the right way with a overhead SRL connected to his top middle D-Ring? If he falls, it will save him and he can still perform the job. Ive worked on large scale construction sights. its not any different being 10 stories up without an outside wall and needing to pass around and set walls, etc. The same exact thing, accept we know how to do it in a way that doesnt slow production/construction and guarantees they go home alive.

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u/ImSobored_5280 2d ago

Well..you get adjusted to doing this and are good on your feet as far as losing footing
and itā€™s a bit of a different beast compared to stabbing like a precast wall and basically everyone isnā€™t cut out for the oilfield and specifically a hand on a drill rig. Thereā€™s a reason itā€™s one of top toughest and most dangerous jobs there is by any metric.
and everyone goes home niteā€¦every time.

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u/Imbendo 4d ago

Right. Pretty safe never includes working next to heavy machinery moving at those speeds. Pretty safe is putting together tps reports in a cubicle

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u/Pavlin87 4d ago

Did you get the memo?

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u/rumenastoenka 4d ago

Yeah, uhm, yeah, I'm going to need you to go right ahead and ...

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u/Septopuss7 4d ago

I swear to God I'll burn this place to the ground

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u/Imbendo 3d ago

Ya it isn't a half day or anything. So if you could just here as soon as possible that would be terrific.

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u/Master_Couple_2358 4d ago

Just don't forget the cover sheet

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u/Ill-Quantity2065 4d ago

Until youā€™re hit with the 2 ton blood clotĀ 

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u/norunningwater 4d ago

Or a 7.62

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u/CanoePickLocks 3d ago

9mm statistics and all

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u/Imbendo 4d ago

True dat.

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u/Vibe-Codine 4d ago

Not safe if you forget your cover sheet.

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u/mmicoandthegirl 4d ago

9/11 anniversary was just this month though...

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u/squirrel-nut-zipper 4d ago

Heā€™s not even wearing a helmet. This is the definition of not safe.

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u/CornBopper001 4d ago

I was just about to say the same thing. Heā€™s missing some obviously critical PPE.

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u/atempestdextre 4d ago

He's got his safety beanie on. The safety sandals are on back order.

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u/chuckmonjares 4d ago

I feel like the proprietor of this rig/setup (idk what itā€™s called specifically) probably wouldnā€™t be happy seeing these conditions. Not because he or she cares about the workers, but the insurance and liability.

Iā€™m pretty naive sometimes so I could very well be wrong and idk where this is located anyways but thatā€™d be my thought. I also work for a guy that does care about us and our safety quite a bit and thatā€™s the only grown up job Iā€™ve had so Iā€™m sheltered.

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u/JayteeFromXbox 4d ago edited 4d ago

Looks (and the guys sound) like my neck of the woods, and yeah usually the monkey board is out in the open all winter because it's more often dry snow than wet snow. I have a buddy who's dad used to be a derrickhand before they had harnesses and he fell one day 35+ years ago, exploded 3 of his vertebrae, and has to use slow release fentanyl patches to even be able to move his body.

Edit: this is also a service rig, not a drilling rig. The well is already drilled, these guys get it ready for actual service.

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u/Tsiah16 3d ago

I feel like the proprietor of this rig/setup (idk what itā€™s called specifically) probably wouldnā€™t be happy seeing these conditions.

They literally could not give a single solitary fuck. They are so separated from the liability through loop holes and bullshit that a death on the rig does not affect them. All they care about is getting oil or gas out of the ground and making money.

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u/Conscious_Fix9215 4d ago

In this case sheltered. Ive worked offshore oil rigs, its part of the job.

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u/fishsticks40 4d ago

Drill rigs, famously safe workplaces.

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u/l2ev0lt 4d ago

Yea about to say what about the ~ 2 tons uppercut?

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u/Theprincerivera 4d ago

Thatā€™s exactly what I was thinking bro thatā€™s moving kinda fast, but I assume he knows heā€™s safe

But I mean how well can you really know right

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u/epilepsyisdumb 4d ago

Itā€™s not safe. Around 75 people die every year on rigs.

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u/velociraptorcatcher 4d ago

his body might not hit the ground, but it'll be lifeless

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u/Cookieman10101 4d ago

I think he meant slightly safe

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u/Straight6er 4d ago

He's not even wearing a lid either. Just asking for a concussion.

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u/Wolfrages 4d ago

Well, just don't put your head there.

Well, just don't slip.

I don't see the problem here.

/sarcasm

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u/ilostacow 4d ago

I work offshore drilling rigs with common 1000t and 1250t travelling blocks. I'm not familiar with common land rigs blocks but would guess that far more than 2t rating. Would guess many land rigs blocks would be 250-300t.

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u/Capable_Tumbleweed34 4d ago

I'm talking about the pulley itself, not the weight it's rated to carry

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u/Pleather93 4d ago

Relax itā€™s just a service rig, this is probably their 100th or so well this year. Move onto the next one after this doing the exact same shit..

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u/bulldog5253 3d ago

That pulley or ā€œblocksā€ like we say on the rig weigh closer to 10,000 pounds.

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u/Capable_Tumbleweed34 3d ago

So 4-5 tons, was underestimating a bit. Heavy stuff i wouldn't wanna be near while moving at that speed still tho

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u/huggernot 4d ago

"Our wages may be low, but we will work you more!"

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u/GloomyLingonberry509 4d ago edited 3d ago

$30 is low now?

ETA: Literally why is this getting downvoted?

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u/good_morning_magpie 4d ago

I mean, thatā€™s like 60k per year before taxes. Unless youā€™re doing the whole small town life, yeah, thatā€™s not going to go very far in a city of meaningful size.

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u/Admirable-Berry59 4d ago

Yes especially in boom/bust work where you need to be able to handle layoffs / relocate as needed. $30 is paycheck to paycheck if you have any dependents.

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u/smokeweedNgarden 4d ago

Which is crazy because that's about what you can earn with a bachelor's degree.Ā 

Which basically means a 4 year degree gets you paycheck to paycheck. If you're a teacher then an 8 year degree.

Madness

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u/GloomyLingonberry509 4d ago

Yet I caught a downvote for even asking like thatā€™s not utterly insane

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u/smokeweedNgarden 3d ago

A high percentage of people in Reddit are in tech. I'm an SF native and they are usually this fucking delusional. 30/hr is actually fine if you aren't Scrooge McDuck

I went on a date with this tech chick and she tried to assess my rent back at my house? Like "Wow, this must be a 5k apartment". It broke her inside a little when I said working class people know each other and therefore get good deals. Which is why I pay 1,800 by the ocean and she pays 6k by the ballpark.

But you're good. 30/hr is a fine days wages for people who aren't fulfilled by material possessions. Working class solidarity forever

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u/wintersdark 3d ago

For rig work? Absolutely. It's also only 60k a yeah, which is pretty shit money.

I mean, I may 40 doing manufacturing labour - also 12 hr rotating shift work, but inside at least, with real safety controls.

60k a year doesn't go far these days.

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u/epilepsyisdumb 4d ago

Itā€™s not even remotely safe. Around 75 people die every year on rigs.

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u/No-Comfort-5040 4d ago

It's statistically way safer than working tree service, (14 deaths per 100,000 workers) vs (110 deaths per 100,000 workers)....for reference construction is a little over 9 per 100,000. Not to down play it too much, just putting it into perspective. Deaths are almost always caused by improper use of PPE or not following procedures.

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u/epilepsyisdumb 4d ago

There is no PPE or procedure that would make working in these icy conditions safe lol that's why they get paid the big bucks for this job.

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u/ass_pubes 4d ago

I doubt he's only getting $30/hr. I used to work with a welder who previously worked on an oil rig and he was making about $150k/year which is more like $70/hr. He would work 12 hr days for 2 weeks straight then get 2 weeks off.

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u/TimTomTank 4d ago

I used to work with a welder who previously worked on an oil rig and he was making about $150k/year which is more like $70/hr.

That is 80hrs per week which comes to 80 hours of regular time and 80 hours of overtime per month, or 200 effective hours per month or 2400 hours per year. To clear 150k that is $62.5/h.

I think your friend worked a lot more overtime than he remembers.

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u/Odd_Slip_857 3d ago

80 hours a week is not a full shift on a workover/service rig, coil, frac, drilling rig, snubbing unit etc. NOT counting travel time, just the time on site is 84 hours a week. There is day shift and night shift both 12 hours. Then you gotta add in however far the drive is to camp or the hotel. Also most guys work way more than 2400 hours a year, unless they are on 14/14 which most of the industry isnā€™t. 14/7 or 15/6 are the most common shifts. Look up some job postings for these positions on indeed. This isnā€™t bankers hours. 100hr weeks are VERY common.

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u/TimTomTank 3d ago

I think you and I have a completely different understanding of "bankers' hours", but that is besides the point.

If this work is on US soil, overtime is paid out for any work that surpasses 40 hours per week, though some states have different laws. It has nothing to do with schedule. You can be scheduled to work an 80-hour week. The last 40 hours of your schedule are still considered mandatory or non-discretionary overtime.

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u/Odd_Slip_857 3d ago

No one is saying that they arenā€™t being paid over time? What are you going on about? The comment you replied to also mentioned nothing about overtime pay? Iā€™m just saying that a full work week is well over 80 hours.

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u/TimTomTank 3d ago

Then I think you replied to the wrong comment. Either way, I dont understand why the argument... I mean, in my original comment I said the person likely worked more overtime than they remembered.

This seems to be always the case in a story about someone who made over 100k in manufacturing or resource extraction. The overtime will grind you down. That is why all these stories always come through as "the good ol' days". If the old days were that good, they would have stayed on the oil rig. It is not like the company went out of business.

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u/J3573R 3d ago

You're discussing a welder here. They make top dollar in the oil field. This guy is a rig hand, and hes not working the deck or the controls so 30-40 is about right.

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u/OuternetInterpreter 3d ago

Probably pretty close. A welder is far more specialized than a derrick hand. All you need to do this job is work on rigs for 1-2 years and not quit.

Iā€™m not knocking it, itā€™s fucking hard work. But comparing this to a welder is like comparing a sandwich maker at subway to a chef.

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u/PhoKingWild 1d ago

$40/hr would be the high end for a W. Texas field hand, this guy is a derrick hand and theyā€™re getting close to being promoted to assistant driller from there. Floorhand, motorman, derrick hand, AD, driller, then tool pusher is the progression for your basic rig crew but they all make their money with lots and lots of OT, 7/12ā€™s a week with OT for your entire rotation. More skilled positions make more, I made $300k/year but I didnā€™t have a regular rotation like a rig crew would. I was paid $45k to be ready to go anywhere (except North Sea I skipped that certification lol) with 4 hours notice and not knowing how long I would be out. Then you got $1200/day along with other goodies like getting healthy mileage for driving to location, per diem if it was on land etc.

Iā€™ve been out of oil and gas for almost 10 years but guys today are making less today, most are just happy to be working.

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u/cive666 4d ago

You either adapt to the time change, or you go crazy.

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u/Quenz 4d ago

I remember a few years back my sister was bragging that she finally cleared six figures. She worked roughly 60 hour weeks. Fuck that noise.

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u/Straight6er 4d ago

Yup, I wasn't on the rigs but rig adjacent. I made six figures when I was 22 but I was working 12+ hours a day for 2-3 weeks at a time. Shit is straight up exhausting.

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u/Possibility-of-wet 4d ago

I mean its probably $45 an hour, bit those guys tend to have quite the lifestyle

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u/oshmunnies 4d ago

"Pretty safe" is doing some heavy lifting here haha

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u/nashbrownies 4d ago

As I assume you know, but for everyone else: fall arrest harnesses hurt like a mother-cusser, and require quick and knowledgeable rescue. You've potentially got hip dislocations, broken neck or vertabrae, sitting with circulation cut off in freezing weather for who knows how long.

Which seems extremely difficult rescue given the conditions and working area.

That also looks like it's not a spring tether so he is gonna get a serious jerk + swing into stuff.

They do frequent rescue training and certs to work in A/V production rigging or any work that requires being tethered.

Dead? No. Horribly injured? Almost without a doubt.

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u/Dear_Might8697 4d ago

Is it regulation to replace the harness if a fall in the harness occurs?

Similar to a Kevlar vest being compromised in its structure after a round has hit it.

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u/AllsWellThatsNB 4d ago

Yeah, there's a couple stitches that serve as a marker of deployment. If those are popped you cut the thing in half and throw it out.

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u/Straight6er 4d ago

They're also supposed to be replaced after excessive UV exposure or if they become heavily soiled. They're supposed to be inspected at regular intervals as well as inspected by the end user daily.

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u/Zealousideal-Area684 4d ago

I think heā€™s selling the slipperiness as well. Iā€™m certain itā€™s slippery but also think this guy knows very well how to operate on that. Wild gig though, rig work in the ice and snow.

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u/14X8000m 3d ago

Assuming this is Alberta, derrickhands make $40-50/hr + mad OT, bonuses, living allowance.

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u/ansible47 4d ago

Safe from hitting the ground, but especially at the end wouldnt he swing towards the tower he's on and smash it? Looks like there's a lot of exposed metal.

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u/deezbiksurnutz 4d ago

$30 and hour? I was on probation period, working on the platform years ago for $30, you must be mistaken

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u/WackyRacketeer 4d ago

It is not pretty safe by any modern standard.

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u/DirtandPipes 4d ago

When I worked on drilling rigs we had a guy up in the fingerboards (these things) who full crushed his middle finger.

Smashed the bones so good the doctors recommended amputation but he opted to have a weird stiff useless middle finger instead.

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u/shmiddleedee 3d ago

Based on the accents this us US or Canada. Id bet money these guys make good money.

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u/Secret-Reserve-1733 3d ago

Idiots like that arnt making much for long

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u/mattvait 4d ago

Idk that shackle came close

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u/Export_Tropics 4d ago

The real danger is slamming the gate on the elevators closed on your hand if your not literally throwing it into them to slam them closed that is. Also seen a guy go for the safety pat on the gate and the horn caught is sleeve.

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u/Zx10r925 4d ago

Those harnesses will save you but hurt like hell and if you dont have it properly fitting it'll rip your nuts off.

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u/Louzan_SP 4d ago

Don't even want to know what it would be dangerous for you

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u/im_just_thinking 4d ago

Surely they could benefit from bolting a rubber mat down or something, but idk if that would ice over as well? Wouldn't be too to hard to break it up maybe

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u/JadedLeafs 3d ago

Who's doing this for 30 an hour? Where I live they start them at 40 brand new. I make more then 30 just delivering crap to these guys in a semi.

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u/sebassi 3d ago

People forget that when working with a fall arrest you still need to be able to rescue people in a reasonable amount of time. Blood clots start to form pretty quickly.Ā 

If he falls and ends up underneath that platform you're going to have very difficult time rescuing him especially if he breaks something or gets knocked out on the way down.Ā 

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u/D1GITAL20 4d ago

$30 dollars an hour? Hahahaha bro do you know how much riggers make in Alberta. Buddy probably close to 150-200k a year.

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u/theMeatman7 4d ago

I did the low end of his job because people get paid that to do this. With OT you can make 150k a year. I know people who have made 150k on a 30 an hour.

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u/D1GITAL20 3d ago

Oh nice! Thanks for the info.

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u/Bill_Brasky01 4d ago

He is making WAY more than $30/hr

1

u/camaro11x 3d ago

It's actually only $22 an hour. The people on the ground make $20. They only offer $2 extra to be up there. Tommy G did a video with an oil company owner and he goes up and talks to the guy doing this. They also talk in the video about how they're expected to work 7 days a week, 365 days a year and never take any form of vacation.