Two Way Radios Imperative At All Levels of Canadian Oil and Gas
With more than 60,000 people working in oil and gas production in Canada, often times in large team capacities, there is a pressing need to keep employees safe. Oil and gas in all its stages is a tough industry that demands a lot from its workers, and its equipment.
But, with a growing focus on safety in this industry, and with its resources being an expensive one to develop, there is a need for a communication tool that can stand up to the toughest day the oil and gas industry can throw at it.
The vast majority of Canadian oil production happens in three provinces – Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador. Throughout the industry in Canada, which is one of the largest oil producers in the world, there has also been a vast success rate in efficiency, productivity and safety with two way radios.
Due to the harsh work environments, there are often requirements for CSA (Canadian Standard Association) or UL (Underwriter Laboratories of Canada) Intrinsically Safe certifications. The requirement depends on the work environment, and is often determined by insurance operators. A number of two way radios are approved for these conditions, with various Class, Divisions and Group ratings, and designed to work in environments that include flammable materials, combustible vapours and dust.
Let’s take a look at how two way radios help in each of the key stages involved:
Exploration – Given Canada’s unique geography, geology and resources, exploration is happening in various corners of the country every day. With this, especially in rural environments (where oil and gas exploration and development often happens), companies require a reliable communication tool that isn’t limited by cell towers, providing team communication no matter where you’re located, but can also stand up to the durability you require in technology.
When exploring for oil and gas, people and technology are exposed to the elements, and extreme temperatures, but Motorola two way radios offer the toughest two way radios available – with up to IP68 ratings for complete dust proof and waterproof abilities for up to two hours.
Excavation and Well Development – When you see images of the “oil patch” in Canada, you’re seeing a lot of excavation and well development work. It’s tough. It’s dirty. And it requires long days from employees. As mentioned above, two way radios of today are ready to be exposed to whatever you can throw at it – from dirt, grime, and more. Motorola also puts its two way radios through a series of tests to ensure it can handle the drops, vibrations and shocks your radio will inevitably experience on a day-to-day basis.
At the same time, these days can be long, and with safety as a top priority, your team can’t and shouldn’t go without communication. The latest two way radio technology solves that problem with up to 29 hours of battery life.
Production – Once well development takes place, and production begins with the technology on site, there is still a need for employees to monitor facilities and ensure the product is meeting demands. Often times, there are a number of team members that work within a production site, and communication is a driving force in that success.
In this case, it’s important to have a technology that isn’t going to affect your ability to get the job done, especially around volatile substances. A number of two way radios feature intrinsically safe ratings that enable oil and gas employees to communicate with their team, while not worrying about their radio sparking some of the materials being produced.
In addition, Nova offers a number of accessories that fall within the intrinsically safe line – including everything from batteries, to headsets, and more.
Transport / Distribution – While it’s not the hands-on oil and gas work, this is still an import part of oil and gas development in Canada. After all, not everything is able to be moved via pipelines. Motorola two way radios have been an important resource in the transportation and distribution industry not only in Canada, but around the world, for years. Mobile two way radio options, which can be mounted in vehicles, feature the same technology as the portable radios we spoke about above. They keep teams in touch, and can handle the bumps and bruises along the way.
They also meet safety demands from oil and gas in that they often adhere to provincial distracted driving bylaws when used appropriately with a speaker mic for communication. Nova Communications provides these as well – a popular accessory for both portable and mobile two way radio users.
With today’s two way radio options, there is literally a model for every oil and gas employee to ensure team communication excels, members are kept safe, and your production continues to thrive. Want to know the three recommended two way radios for oil and gas from Nova? Click here!
At Nova Communications, we are proud to be a part of an industry that makes up the fabric of Canada and its continued success. This year, keep an eye on our blog as we do various things to celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary in 2017.
Whether you’re in the oil and gas industry or elsewhere, we have worked with sectors throughout Canada to help solve communications needs. With more than 30 years in business, we can answer any and all of your questions. Contact us today for more information or start with the free two-minute Radio Selector Guide below, which will give you a few great options for your communication needs.
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