Source: Oil & Gas Inquirer

On The Job

JoAnn Weiss

Age: 48 going on 38

Title: Parts Person, Safety Auditor, Entrepreneur

Companies: Kinetic Safety Consulting Inc., Mechanics In Motion, and Safety Auditing & Services Inc.

What was your introduction to the oilpatch?

I received my journeyman parts ticket with R. Angus Caterpillar in Grande Prairie and then got into service rigs. At Beta Well Service, I worked as the Girl Friday. For Cenalta Well Servicing, I did everything from office work and hotshot driving to safety support, which helped get me into my present businesses.

Why did you focus on safety in particular?

I grew up on a farm in this district, which meant hauling slop pails, throwing hay bales over fences, and other heavy work. Years later, I tripped in a pothole while jogging. When I went for treatment, the physiotherapist explained that farm work had damaged my lower back and hips from improper lifting. it's so much better to prevent these problems rather than ignoring the risks until you're actually in trouble. i believe oil and gas safety training should extend from how an oilfield worker moves bags of cement through to evading that deer when it pops up in front of your headlights.

You run three small businesses-how do they connect?

Oil and gas workers move objects that are heavy, awkwardly shaped, in low or high placement, and so on. Our custom training program Mechanics in Motion reduces severity of soft tissue injure from pushing, pulling, heavy lifting, handling, and repetitive work. Kinetic Safety employs three retired police officers who instruct the Proactive Driving Course candidates on how to remain safe and avoid being involved in collisions in all situations. Safety Auditing and Services does conventional safety audits to help reduce injuries in the workplace.

What's your simplest tip for avoiding strain and stress injuries?

Let's say a crew drives three or four hours to get to a lease site, and then the boss is in a hurry to get his guys unloading tools, rigging in, and what-ever's needed to get the job underway. in that situation, just a few minutes of stretching makes a big difference. In fact, stretching before work or when you're stiff will reduce overall workplace injury rates by 25 per cent. Lifting technique is also critical. Mechanics In Motion teaches several different types of lifts and stretches. Our four-hour program blends classroom, field video review, and practical hands-on with the client's equipment, customized for each customer.

How does kinetic safety's driver training work?

Our Proactive Driver Training Course enables candidates to practice skid avoidance and recovery utilizing a Swedish skid system mounted on a pickup truck. Our 16-point Commentary Drive exercise shows how a driver must drive to avoid a collision. there's quite a bit more as well. Although it's fun and we have passionate instructors, we're very serious about accident avoidance.

Why did the desk and derrick club name you Canadian energy Person of the Year for 2009?

I've been active in the club for 22 years, along with the Grande Prairie Petroleum Association. I've help organize the association's golf tournaments and bonspiel for many years, along with Clay Shoot and Hockey tournament. I've done other volunteer and charity work in the community. i love this industry-in my experience, it's got more than its share of genuine, down-to-earth, honest people.