Whiting Oil & Gas Corporation Environmental, Health, & Safety Newsletter

2 0 1 1 O C T O B E R

Whiting Oil & Gas Corporation

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Robinson Lake Office Grand Opening

1

OSHA Recordable Accidents

2-4

Denver Spill Drill 5

Oilman of the Year 6

Halloween Safety

Tips

7

Calendar 8

I wish to thank the following persons who have submitted articles

and helped with the newsletter.

Editor: Katie Nichols Katie.Nichols@Whiting.com

Robinson Lake Office Grand Opening

During the grand opening of Whit-ing’s new Robinson Lake office building near Stanley, ND, Darius Frick, left, Area Operations Super-visor for the Northern Williston Basin, places a 1¼-inch frac ball from a fracking operation into a time capsule with other items from Whiting’s early beginnings in North Dakota. With him, is Rick Ross, Vice President of Northern Operations.

Blaine Hoffmann gives a brief history of Whiting’s presence in North Dakota during the grand opening of the Robinson Lake office.

Happy Halloween

New Robinson Lake Office!

E N V I R O N M E N T A L , H E A L T H , & S A F E T Y N E W S L E T T E R P A G E 2

Whiting Oil & Gas Corporation

Contractor OSHA Recordable Accident

Neoprene Gloves

On August 4, 2011, a contract hot oil truck operator suffered 2nd degree burns to both hands while working in the Whiting’s Key-stone Cattle Company field near Kermit, TX. The injured contractor and roustabout crew had been hired to remove paraffin plugs from a tubing string. The work crew was using a stinger attached to the hot oiler spray nozzle in an effort to heat and break the plugs inside the tubing joints. When the injured placed the stinger inside of the tub-ing, a plug caused the hot water and steam to splash-back on to the operator. The injured was transported to Odessa, TX for medical attention. This case was an OSHA recordable, lost time accident, and chargeable to the contract company. Casual Factors The lack of a detailed pre-job hazard recognition tool (JSA or Tailgate Safety

Meeting was not conducted for specific task). The lack of proper PPE. Not wearing appropriate gloves, splash goggles, and

face shield. The stinger did not have a splash guard in place to prevent the splash-back Corrective Actions Ensure that pre-job hazard recognition tool (JSA or Tailgate Safety Meeting) is

completed before work begins to identify all associated hazards. Ensure that the contract employee operating the stinger is wearing the appropri-

ate gloves i.e. gauntlet style neoprene. In addition to requiring the correct PPE the contract company will install splash

-back guards on stingers. Ray Taylor

Face Shield

E N V I R O N M E N T A L , H E A L T H , & S A F E T Y N E W S L E T T E R P A G E 3

Whiting Oil & Gas Corporation

Contractor OSHA Recordable Accident

On September 1, 2011, a contract floor-hand working on a well service rig in Whiting’s Postle Field suffered a laceration to his left pinky finger. While in the process of removing a TIW valve from a string of drill pipe. The contract employee was using a 36’’ pipe wrench to loosen the valve but was having trouble getting the valve to release. The injured then asked for assistance from another crew member and the two managed to break the valve loose. The sudden action of breaking the connection caused the injured to pinch his finger between the bales and the handle of the pipe wrench. The injured was transported for medical attention to Guymon, OK where he received stiches to his finger. This case is an OSHA recordable injury chargeable to the contract com-pany. Casual Factors Improper body position placed hand in proximity to pinch point hazard. The lack of a detailed pre-job hazard recognition tool (JSA or Tailgate Safety Meeting) resulted in failure

to identify pinch point hazard. Corrective Actions The rig crew will be counseled on proper body positioning by rig supervisor. Ensure that pre-job hazard recognition tools used identify pinch point hazards specific to the task.

Ray Taylor

USE SOMETHING

LIKE THIS!

Example Below!

E N V I R O N M E N T A L , H E A L T H , & S A F E T Y N E W S L E T T E R P A G E 4

Whiting Oil & Gas Corporation

Employee OSHA Recordable Accident

On September 14th, 2011, a Whiting Oil & Gas employee received second degree burns to his nose, mouth and chin after being sprayed by oil ( 430ºF plus) from a hot oil heater. Work was being performed on a hot oil heater, where a transmitter line had become plugged. As the Hi side oil line was removed from the transmitter, the plug broke free causing hot oil to spray 10-15 feet from the line. The injured employ-ee attempted to reconnect the line to the transmitter at which time the hot oil sprayed the employee in the face. The injured employee was transported to Mountrail Medi-cal Center in Stanley, ND, where he was treated and released. This incident is an OSHA Recordable case. Causal Factors There was no procedure in place for performing work on the transmitters. Job

could have been completed without exposing employees to hot oil. The injured employee was new to the job (< 2 weeks) . There was not a JSA or Tailgate completed to recognize and communicate the

hazards of the job. The valves to block in and blow down the transmitters where located near the top

of the transmitter and not easily accessible. A ladder was not easily accessible to access the valves. Corrective Action A standard operating procedure will be written for performing work on the trans-

mitters. A tailgate safety meeting or JSA will be performed for all tasks and reviewed

with new employees/contractors entering the worksite. Place block valves and blow down valves at the same points as Hot Oil Heater #2. Through communication tools, verify proper tools are in place. (slow down)

Jason Tuhy

Hi Side

Low Side

Whiting Oil & Gas Corporation

Denver Office Emergency Response Drill

E N V I R O N M E N T A L , H E A L T H , & S A F E T Y N E W S L E T T E R P A G E 5

DRILL

Doug Walton, as Incident Commander, leads members of Whiting’s Corpo-rate Emergency Response Team (CERT) in an Incident Command tactical meeting during a spill drill held in the Denver Office and Dickenson, ND Pro-duction area. on September 13th.

Matt Beal, ICS Planning Section Chief, reviews well control status and response activities with Travis Lauer during September 13th emergency response drill.

Whiting Oil & Gas Corporation

E N V I R O N M E N T A L , H E A L T H , & S A F E T Y N E W S L E T T E R P A G E 6

Big Springs production employee, Paul Bass was named 2011 Gaines County Texas “Oilman Of the Year”

P aul Bass started out working at Hoffman Oil Well Service in 1965 as a Floor hand where he worked

his way to Tool Pusher. He left Hoffman and went to work for Sundown Well Service as a Rig Operator and Relief Tool Pusher. He then worked for D.K. Boyd Oil and Gas from 1991 – 1997, and moved on to Smith and Mars, B.C. Operating and then to Celero. In April 2005 after a near fatal accident in the Oilfield, he was told he would not work again and should re-tire. He made a miracle come back and returned to work in October 2005 around the time Whiting Oil and Gas purchased the Celero fields that Paul worked as a Lease Operator. Paul still pumps for Whiting some of the wells D.K. Boyd drilled from his earlier years and continues to operate wells in Andrews, Dawson, Gaines and Yoakum counties for Whiting Oil and Gas. Paul attended Seminole Schools where he met and married his High School sweetheart, Ru-by Burrell. They have been married 46 years. They have three children; Sandy Wil-liams married to Butch Williams. Dustin Bass married to Gwen Bass and Dina Riley, mar-ried to Jerry Riley. Paul and Ruby have five grandsons.

I met Paul’s family at a hospital in Lubbock, not long after they air lifted him from the accident site in 2005. Through his stay in the hospital I met and spent time with his family. I can tell you first hand, Paul is a very loved, respected and appreciated hus-band, dad, and grandfather. Paul it is my privilege to work with you, and a great honor to have been there with you and your family as you received this well-deserved award. Congratula-tions!! Other Whiting employees attending the celebration were Mark Strickland, Vicki Ancinec, Davis Gomez, and Randy Welch.

Vickie Reynolds Davis Gomez and Paul Bass

Paul Bass and his wife Ruby Oilman of the Year!

E N V I R O N M E N T A L , H E A L T H , & S A F E T Y N E W S L E T T E R P A G E 7

Whiting Oil & Gas Corporation

TRICK-OR-TREATING SAFETY... Carry a flash light. 

Avoid taking shortcuts across backyards or alleys. 

Walk on well lit streets. 

Trick-or-treat in well known neighborhoods. 

Approach only homes that have their front porch light on. 

Be careful about homemade treats or damaged wrappers.

Children under the age of 12 should be accompanied by an adult. 

Know the route your children will be taking if you are not going with them. 

Set a curfew for children who are not being supervised by an adult. 

Explain to children the difference between tricks and vandalism. 

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS... Homeowners should prepare their home for trick-or-

treaters by removing obstacles from the front yard, re-straining dogs and other animals, and lighting the house well.

Provide treats that are individually wrapped or offer kids non-food treats, such as stickers, erasers, and tooth-brushes.

Artificial lights and candles are a safer alternative to real candles with a flame that can pose a fire hazard

If going to an adult Halloween party, make sure that you don't drink and drive. Use a designated driver if alcohol is being consumed. COSTUME SAFETY…

Costumes should be of bright material, visible in the dark or have reflective tape. 

Consider using face paint, masks can hinder a child's visibility. 

If they do wear a mask, make sure it fits se-curely to allow good visibility. 

Wear a well fitted costume. Loose costumes may cause the child to trip and fall. 

Tape child's name, address and telephone number to inside of costume.

Do not allow sharp instruments to be used in costuming.

DRIVING SAFETY... Motorists traveling on Halloween night should remember that children are everywhere: streets, sidewalks, crosswalks and parking lots. You will need to be on the highest alert while driving. Many of the costumes children wear are dark and difficult to see, be sure to have your headlights on. Slow down if you see leaves on the ground, you never know where children may be hiding. Be alert at all times and please drive with caution.

Safety Safety Safety First!

First!First!

check.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

30 31 1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8

9

10 11 12

13 14 15

16

17 18 19

20 21 22

23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 1 2 3

November 2011

Note to Contractors: Whiting Safety Meetings are open to any contractors who wish to attend. Contact

Whiting field office in your area for dates and times.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

CPR/First Aid/AED Training - Fairfield

Whiting Observed Holiday

Denver Emergen-cy Evacuation

Training 2-3pm

Denver Emergency Evacuation Training 9-10am 2-3pm

PSM/RMP Audit Dry Trail

Putnam/Oswego Incident Investiga-

tion Training

CERT Training Midland Office

Midland CERT & Wickett Emergen-

cy Response

Veterans Day

25

CPR/First Aid/AED Training - Robinson Lake