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The Need for Oilfield Signage
13 December 2017 – No Comments
The purpose of oilfield signage is to provide clear and concise instructions, information as well process and product identification to an industry where health and safety is critical.
Signage may be seen to some as an add on or afterthought. Even in everyday life you may see a tired looking ‘no parking’ sign written in front of a garage door. But do people take it seriously? That poorly painted, uneven, unprofessional, handwritten emblem?
The sign might be overlooked or become damaged unless its produced using the correct materials, with easily readable, clear characters which help to prove its importance, and to help it get noticed.
So, what distinguishes a good or bad sign?
Visit our oilfield signage page to learn more about the products offered by AQUASIGN.
Good v Bad Signage
Below are examples of poor and appropriate industry signage next to each other. While there is no place for signage as lax as the bad example below in the oil and gas industry, there is however a need for clear, reliable signage for operators and contractors alike to comply with for health and safety regulations.
BAD SIGNAGE
Faded safety message
Peeling/damaged wording
Materials used not resistant to weathering
GOOD SIGNAGE
Exposed to elements however undamaged/faded
Clear, readable, intact and message
Stands out, looks professional
For more information or to ask a question about your oilfield signage requirements contact our team.
Signage uses
Health and Safety
In the oil and gas sector there are various hazards and risks crossed daily which companies, as a duty of care, need to make their employees aware of. As well as regular employees, site visits and inspections mean these companies are also responsible for visitor safety. A lack of any kind of safety observation can be as serious as closing down an operation.
Equipment & Process Identification
As well as ensuring the workplace is safe, the clarity on operational processes and equipment identification is just as important. The images below show metal certification plates: used to display e.g. equipment’s batch numbers and the date it was lasted tested.
Visit our oilfield signage page to learn more about the products offered by Aquaisgn.
Whether it be inside your plant, in your office or on a piece of equipment, signage is needed for awareness and safety.
For oil and gas companies, a signs composition is usually based on the application and durability of environmental conditions. The sign selection process relates to the requirements and regulations: flexibility and ease of installation are key factors to consider.
Signs are needed if:
- There is a need to communicate a message clearly and effectively.
- There is no pre-existing signage; for example, a brand-new piece of equipment.
- The old sign is cracked or damaged: this can obscure the communication.
- If the existing sign has been overwritten and edited too many times for it to be readable.
- The entire pre-existing sign is faded beyond recognition: when a sign has been exposed to light the letters and backing can fade and disappear to leave a blank sheet of material.
- If a surface is going to be exposed to the elements: signs made out of weak materials won’t survive harsh weathering.
- If your branding guidelines are strict, a new sign is the best way to present a clean aesthetic.
There can be hundreds of pieces of powerful equipment on site, several hazards (electrical, pressure and toxicity) and dangerous daily business process that oil and gas companies are responsible for creating safety polices for. Adequate signage keeps the health and safety standards high, and presents the company as a trust worthy and reliable company to do business with.
For more information or to ask a question about your oilfield signage requirements contact our team.