Life on the Rigs

Working on the rigs can be both financially and personally rewarding – but it is not for everyone. The work is both physically and mentally demanding, with high expectations and rigorously enforced codes of conduct.

We’ve put together this helpful guide to give you a realistic expectation of what life on the rigs will be like and to help you evaluate for yourself whether you’re prepared to make the commitment necessary to succeed on the job.

A Challenging Work Environment

• Travel to and living in remote areas is a necessity.
  You will be travelling to and from rigs in very remote areas of Canada. Some rigs move every few days while other rigs stay in the same location for months.   You will either live in drilling camps or in lodgings located in a town close to the worksite.

• The physical work can be exceptionally demanding.
  You will work long hours, often under exposure to the elements. You will also be required to work with heavy equipment, climbing stairs and lifting weights in excess of 80 pounds.

• Days are busy and long.

Rigs operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  A typical work schedule is a three-crew rotation with each crew working a 12 hour shift. Crews rotate from 7 days on the day shift to 7 days on the night shift, followed by 7 days off.

Work continues, rain or shine.
Be prepared to work in rainy or sunny conditions. Rigs remain operational through most weather conditions, though severe weather such as tornados, electrical storms or blizzards are considered extreme weather conditions where a rig would shut down for safety purposes.  Working outside for 12 hours in a rainstorm can make for a very long day.

• You may, at times, feel isolated.

The work can be emotionally challenging because of the remote nature of the worksite and the lack of family support. You will spend more time with the crew you work with than your own family.

• There are no sick days.
  If someone cannot work, the crew is usually left shorthanded until the individual gets well or a replacement arrives. Because work sites are remote and considerable travel is required to get to site, adding personnel is not a simple task.

Ongoing Training

Rigs are very complicated pieces of equipment. To get the job done safely and efficiently, rig work requires that technology and people work together seamlessly. There are very strict procedures that must be adhered to in order to protect yourself and fellow employees from danger.

Failure to do the job right can result in serious injury – whether to yourself or a member of your crew. As such, this work requires a heavy degree of focus and a constant awareness of the serious consequences of a lapse in judgment. You’ll be expected to stay current and up-to-date on all of the equipment, processes and procedures you use every day.

To ensure this, we offer an extensive training program mandatory for all employees. You will need to be prepared to develop your knowledge and understanding on a daily basis.

In addition, AKITA provides personal protective equipment (PPE) for every new employee starting their career as well as coveralls to existing employees that help to offset the cost of maintaining PPE.  You must be able to dress for the elements in order to work in the environmental conditions that you will face.

The rigs are based on a command structure, and everyone has both a supervisor and someone to report to. The workplace is set up this way to ensure proper supervision and training as you develop.  A key focus at AKITA is proper mentorship of our developing employees to ensure that they get the best training possible, and the same will be extended to you.

Safe Work Environment

AKITA is uncompromisingly committed to safety. We’re dedicated to providing a safe worksite for everyone and we take all reasonable steps to safeguard and protect our employees, contractors, customers, property, the public and environment.

Our focus on safety stems from our core values of integrity, respect and commitment. As such, our drug and alcohol policies are both strict and strictly enforced. You are expected to be fit for duty and not to use drugs or alcohol.

Because the health and safety of all of our employees is of utmost concern, you are required to report all incidents to a supervisor immediately and without exception.

Finally, AKITA expects everyone to treat both themselves and others with respect. With that in mind, any issues regarding workplace violence, harassment or discrimination will be taken very seriously and must be reported to a supervisor immediately.