Whiting Oil & Gas Corporation

2 0 1 1 N O V E M B E R

Whiting Oil & Gas Corporation

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

Winter Driving Tips 1

Winter Driving Survival Kit

2

Safety: Deer Collisions

3

OSHA Recordable Accident

4

Shocker of the Month!

5

Calendar 67

I wish to thank the following persons who have submitted articles

and helped with the newsletter.

Editor: Katie Nichols Katie.Nichols@Whiting.com

Winter Driving Safety

S tay alert, slow down, and stay in control, these are the three key elements of safe winter driving. Drive according to

highway and weather conditions. Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to avoid situations where you may have to brake suddenly on a slippery surface. Make note of the following tips to ensure a safe winter this year! Winter and Foul Weather Driving Tips: Never warm up a vehicle in an enclosed area, such as in a

garage. Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Applying the gas slowly to accelerate is the best

method for regaining traction and avoiding skids. Don't try to get moving in a hurry, take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.

Drive slowly. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning - nothing happens as quickly as on dry pavement. Give yourself time to maneu-ver by driving slowly.

Do not use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface (wet, ice, sand). The normal dry pavement following distance of four seconds should be increased to

eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.

Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, the best way to stop is threshold breaking. Keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.

If possible, avoid using your parking brake in cold, rainy and snowy weather. Don't stop if you can avoid it. There's a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes

to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still roll-ing. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.

Don't power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill as slowly as possible.

Don't stop going up a hill. There's nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.

Stay home. If you really don't have to go out, don't. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can. Use your seat belt every time you get into your vehicle.

Safe Travels during this Holiday Season!

P A G E 2

Whiting Oil & Gas Corporation

Winter Driving Survival Kit

Be Prepared — Is Your Vehicle Ready? Get your vehicle winter-ready with a maintenance check-up. Don’t wait for winter

to have your battery, belts, hoses, radiator, oil, lights, brakes, tires, exhaust system, heater/defroster, wipers, and ignition system checked.

Make sure your vehicle is mechanically ready for the rigours of winter. Keep your fuel tank sufficiently full, at least half a tank is recommended.

Make sure you have sufficient windshield washer fluid in the reservoir that is rated a minimum of 32°F temperature range. Keep an extra jug in the vehicle.

Clear snow and ice from all windows, lights, mirrors, and the roof. After starting your vehicle, wait for the fog to clear from the interior of the windows so you will have good visibility all around.

Have your tires checked before winter begins. Remember to check tire air pressure frequently, as it decreases in cold weather.

I t’s a good idea to keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle. Having essential supplies can provide some comfort and safety for you and your passengers should you become

stranded. Recommended Winter Survival Kit Items Include:

Ice scraper/snowbrush Shovel Sand or other traction aid Tow rope or chain Booster cables Road flares or warning lights Gas line antifreeze Flashlight and batteries

First aid kit Fire extinguisher Small tool kit Extra clothing and footwear Blanket Non-perishable energy foods Candle and a small tin can Matches

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

Whiting Oil & Gas Corporation Safety: Deer Collisions

A ccording to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there are about 1.5 million car

accidents with deer each year that result in about 150 human fatalities and over 10,000 personal injuries. With that said, the majority of these accidents take place in October, November, and December due to a dramatic increase in the movement of the deer population. Many of these deer find their way on to highways and into suburban neighborhoods. There are, however, several things drivers can keep in mind to reduce their risk of colliding with a deer. Safety Driving Tips in Deer Populated Areas Keep a close watch for deer at dawn and dusk. Deer are most active during these times.

If you are driving through an area known for high deer populations, slow down! The more conservative you are with your speed, the more time you will have to brake if an animal darts into your path.

Be especially alert and drive with caution when deer crossing signs are present.

Don't rely on hood whistles or other devices designed to scare off deer. These have not been proven to work.

Deer can become mesmerized by steady, bright lights, so if you see one frozen on the road, flash your lights or honk your horn to frighten deer away from the side of the road.

When you encounter deer along the roadside, turn on your hazard lights to let other motorists know about the potential danger.

Never swerve to avoid a deer in the road. Swerving can confuse the deer on where to run. Swerving can also cause a head-on collision with oncoming vehicles, take you off the roadway into a tree or a ditch, and greatly increase the chances of serious injuries.

Use your high-beam headlights when there is no opposing traffic. The headlight beam will illuminate the eyes of deer and provide greater driver reaction time.

Deer often move in groups. If you see one, there are likely more in the vicinity so be on the lookout for others around the road. They tend to move in single file.

If you're on a multi-lane road, drive in the center lane to give as much space to grazing deer as possible.

Always wear your seatbelt. Most people injured and/or killed in deer automobile collisions were not wearing their seat belt.

By keeping calm and driving smart, you can improve your chances of avoiding a collision and staying safe on the road. Simple driving tips such as the ones above can help you to stay safe during this time of year while the deer population is high. Keep you and your family safe!

P A G E 3 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

Contractor OSHA Recordable Accident

On October 31, 2011, a contract worker received a laceration to the soft tissue of his nose. The injured contractor was walking inside the diking on the Peplinski 34-9, when he tripped over a scrap piece of pipe, causing him to fall, hitting the mailbox mounted on the side of the stairs. The injured contractor was transported to a local hospital where he received stitches to the soft tissue of his nose. This is an OSHA Recordable case chargeable to the contractor. Causal Factors Poor housekeeping on location. The crew was focused on completing the task,

rather than maintaining a safe work area. The hazard was not recognized on the Pre-

Job/Tail Gate Safety Meeting.

Corrective Actions The contract company’s safety department

will reinforce “good housekeeping” practices. Review with employees the importance of us-

ing safety tools to recognize the hazards.

Housekeeping

All places of employment, passageways, storerooms, and service rooms shall be kept clean and orderly and in a sanitary condition.

The floor of every workroom shall be maintained in a clean and, so far as possible, dry condition. Where wet processes are used, drainage shall be maintained, and false floors, platforms, mats, or other dry stand-ing places should be provided where practicable.

To facilitate cleaning, every floor, working place, and passageway shall be kept free from protruding nails, splinters, holes, or loose boards.

Aisles and Passageways

Where mechanical handling equipment is used, sufficient safe clearances shall be allowed for aisles, at loading docks, through doorways and wherever turns or passage must be made. Aisles and passageways shall be kept clear and in good repairs, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard.

Permanent aisles and passageways shall be appropriately marked.

What OSHA says about Housekeeping!

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 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

Shocker of th

e Month

Whiting Oil & Gas Corporation

Apparently, the driver of the flat-bed truck was not paying attention or forgot how to read. He missed the clearance sign and took down an entire bridge with his error…. OOPS!!!

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December 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.

Midland Office Evacuation

Training 10am

Midland Office Evacuation

Training 10am

Texting and Driv-ing Presentation

Dickinson ND - 7:00am & 2:30pm

Robinson Lake - 2:00pm

Texting and Driv-ing Presentation Robinson Lake–

8:00am

Hanukkah Begins

First Day of Winter

Christmas Eve

Christmas Have a Safe New Years Eve!

Kwanzaa Begins

Sat