Insights from the Safer Together Drilling and Completions Incident Review Panel
The recent Drilling and Completion Industry Incident Review Panel, held in Brisbane by Safer Together brought together operators, contractors, safety leaders and industry trainers to address the issues that continue to challenge the oil and gas sector. AWCC was proud to be part of these conversations, the kind that don’t just analyse incidents, but drive real change in the field.
Hand and finger injuries remain one of the most persistent risks in the drilling and completions environment. Despite improved Safe Systems of Work and stronger procedural controls, the panel highlighted that paperwork alone does not stop injuries, innovation does. Several examples demonstrated how simple engineering adjustments can completely eliminate exposure. One operator presented a redesigned rod tong safe-hand load system where a set of guide rails prevents fingers from ever entering the line of fire while loading into a basket. A small modification, yet one that removes almost all chance of hand entrapment. Another case saw a worker lose balance and fall backwards onto a tool rack. Rather than accept it as human error, the site redesigned the rack with a protective guard — a minimal-cost change that now prevents a serious injury.
These examples reinforced a message AWCC has championed for years: engineering controls and practical redesigns outperform paperwork every time. The best safety solutions often aren’t complicated — they’re smart, simple and built from understanding how real work happens in the field.
The panel also discussed the power of mechanical advantage in preventing crush injuries. Too often, heavy manual handling leads to injuries even when SSOWs are followed, simply because the risk was misunderstood or the wrong equipment was used. The discussion emphasised the need for crews to think about leverage, mechanical lifting, and ergonomics as part of planning, not an afterthought. It was a timely reminder that the safest worker is the one who understands why a task is done a certain way — not just how.
As we head into the Christmas period, road safety was another major focus. Open highways, caravans, fatigue, and increased traffic create a perfect storm for incidents involving remote oil and gas crews. The panel stressed the importance of situational awareness, managing closing speeds, avoiding frustration when caravans restrict flow, and knowing how to react when incidents unfold ahead. Road travel remains one of the highest-risk activities in our industry, and the message was simple: slow down, plan ahead and respect the conditions.
Innovations in IVMS also took centre stage. Many companies are now integrating IVMS data directly into daily reporting, producing live dashboard-style summaries that highlight behaviour trends rather than punish individuals. The shift is clear — the industry is moving away from blame and toward solutions. Real-time, transparent data helps crews improve their driving, manage fatigue and build safer habits without the stigma of disciplinary “gotcha” reporting. It’s a mature, professional shift in safety leadership.
The panel also encouraged broader adoption of the Self-Service Employee Management (SSEM) tools available through Safer Together, empowering workers to take responsibility for their own safety profiles, competencies and improvements. These tools reinforce a culture where everyone — not just supervisors — contributes to keeping the field safe.
To close the event, Queensland State of Origin legend Billy Moore delivered an unexpected but powerful message. He spoke about communication under pressure, teamwork, resilience, and — most importantly — having the right people on the bus. Whether in sport or industry, success depends on choosing the people who understand the mission, share the values, and bring the right attitude to every challenge.
For AWCC, that message hit home. Our trainers, assessors and leaders come from the industry, train for the industry, and are committed to improving the industry. We don’t just tick boxes or churn out certificates — we help build safer crews, stronger teams and better decisions at the wellsite. Not every organisation can say the same. Some talk about safety from the sidelines. AWCC stands in the arena, shoulder to shoulder with the people doing the work.
Events like the Incident Review Panel reinforce why we exist: to support a safer, smarter and more capable workforce across drilling and completions. When the industry discusses real problems, AWCC is there. When innovation is showcased, we listen and bring those lessons into our training rooms. And when leaders talk about getting the right people on the bus, we know exactly what that means — because at AWCC, that’s who we are.
A safer industry starts with the right people, the right training and the right mindset. AWCC is proud to be part of the solution.
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